Evening star., 1923-02-26
TROUBLE BREWING
FOR D. c. BUILDERS
Discord Over Labor's De-
mand for Higher Pay Threat
ems Construction Plans.
FOUR TRADES INVOLVED
Refusal of Employers to Grant In
creases May Lead to General
Strike, Is Belief.

Discord between contractors and
several classes OF employees in the
building trades OF Washington over
demands for increased wages is
threatening TO disrupt construction
operations here at a. time when the
local building program Is scheduled
TO break existing records, it was
learned today
Demands for higher wages have
been made by at least four branches
OF union building Observation-Disclosures,
plumbers, steamf1tters and carpenters
and none of them has been met by
the employers, it was disclosed
Refusal by employing associations
to grant the increases asked has led
to numerous conferences between COM
rn!ttees representing both sides in
the controversy, but the alleged un-
Willingness of either party to con-
cede anything has brought about a
serious situation.
Strike Regarded Likely
Indications at present are that un-
less demands of the employees are
granted a general strike Of electri-
clans, plumbers, steamftters and car
pCilCIs Will U5 CdLlSQ the
next Few weeks. with consequent ty-
ing up Of building projects in Wash
ington.
Should the wages demanded by the
men be agreed to BY their employers,
the cost OF building IN the capital au-
tonatically Will mount approximately
70 per cent, according to Howard P.
Foley, secretary Of the union section
Of the Electrical Contractors Associa-
ton OF Washington, which Is an aux
Hilary OF the national association OF
that name.
The four branches of the building
trade mentioned have asked for q
wage boost to $1.25 an hour It was
learned. Electricians. plumbers and
steamfletters are now getting s1.65i4
paid $1.05 an hour. The electricians,
plumbers and steamf1tters' demands
are designed to take effect March !.
The carpenters want an increase by
May 1.
Electricians Submit Demands.
The increases for the electrici ans
were proposed in a communication to
tion from Local Union. No. &c. Inter
national Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers. dated December 19. Janu-
ary 2S the contractors definitely re-
fused to accede to this proposal. The
contractors and union representatives
justification plea of Increased cost OF
living was met with a citation Of
figures of the Department OF Labor
tending to show that the electricians
are getting a higher wage now than
living costs demand.
A suggestion that a formal con-
ference between representatives, Of
employers and employees be held
Thursday Of this week was made to
the contractors association. which re-
piled that It would be unable to take
part in any such conferences this
week but expressed willingness to
confer some time later, when they
had had time for arrangements"
Mr.. Foley, representing the con-
tractors in the negotiations SO far in
the electrical field, pointed out today
that Department of Labor statistics
show that the cost OF living in Wash
ington December 20, last, was $50 per
cent higher than in 1914.
Figuring on a 59.5 per cent in
crease OF wages to Offset this he
said, the 60-cent- -an-hour wage paid
the electricians in 1914 should have
been raised to around 81 an hour
for present conditions They are re-
ceiving more than this now, he
stated, and are asking s1.25 an hour.
Demands Of the carpenters for
promise offer by their employers OF
$1.121s an hour, which has been re-
fused by the men, IL was disclosed
today by Andrew Murray, represent
ing the contractors.
Negotiations between the plumbers
and steamfltters, on one hand, and
building contractors, on the other, are
still incomplete, 1t is understood, but
were that conditions were
tense.
Mr. Foley said today the electrical
labor dispute probably would be car
,ried before the national bodies Of
both parties and that the result would
be the appointment of committees by
tho International Brotherhood Of
Electrical Workers and the Electrical
Contractors Association, to conciliate
the differences.
Calls Rate Unreasonable.
Mr.. Foley expressed the opinion
that such a committee could not fail
to be convinced that the demands Of
the electricians are beyond reason.
He has collected mass Of figures re-
garding the cost Of living here, at
present and before the war, and cor =
responding wage scales, the purport
of which Is to show that electricians
should now be receiving from 90 cents
to 81 an hour, instead of the present
rate of $1.08k.
It was ascertained in union circles
this afternoon that the situation as
disclosed relative to wage troubles
was correct There has been no
strike" talk, It was stated. but the
men are determined to obtain what
they term "just treatment from their
employers.