The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-06-16
P A|NTERS FORCE
BUILDING COUNCIL
TO BACK STRIKE
CANCEL City" Trades
Fight Open Shop
Especial to the DAILY WoRKER.)


LOS ANGELES Cal, June 15.-The
valiant fight Of the striking painters
in Los Angeles is taking a new course.
1t was taken over by the Building
Trades Council, who went on record
for active cooperation, support and
leadership From now on it will be
the Building Trades Council who will
have the responsibility for the out
come Of this struggle.
This action was the result Of hard
and bitter struggle within the council
The struggle lasted for ten full weeks,
but had to be brought about by a strict
ultimatum from the Painters District
Council.
Utimatum Wins.
This strike of the painters was en-.
dorsed by the Building Trades Council
before it was called. The Painters
District Council considered the Official
communication Of endorsement as a
pledge and obligation for close coop
Grafton and support. They understood
that after securing this official en-
dorsement, the scabbing of any build
ing trade on the striking painters
would be impossible.
None of the other building trades
tried to fight the scab painters on the
jobs or even to refuse to work on such
jobs. Their financial assistance was
insignificant and their moral support
was merely in promises, delays and
mostly excuses. The strikers were in
clined to believe that there were justi-
fable reasons behind these excuses
and were waiting patiently for the
promises to be fulfilled, suffering in
the meantime, great hardships and pri-
vations.
Churches Protest.
The employers, knowing by expert
ence, what is to be expected from such
policies, were getting more and more
entrenched in their position of non
recognition or open Shop" They
kept their union men locked out and
refused even to meet or talk to any
representative of the union even in an
uuIOTmdl conference.
The United Church Federation in
terfered in the name of humanity and
for the llfare of the community.
They invited both sides of the con-
troversy to conference. The en-
ployers, encouraged by the desertion
of the B. T. c., declared thru the vici-
GUS L. A. Times, that there is no
strike, as none of the l.. A. labor I'M
ions ever recognized the painters as
strikers.
Meanwhile, the striking painters
were getting educated to the real
facts and causes behind their present
troubles. Reports of the strike stu
alton were given out quite frequently.
Able and competent speakers were Sc
cured to address the strikers every
day. The strikers read intently and
learned. They really did some think
ing.
Learn While Fighting.
This educational campaign conduct
ed by the strike committee, culminat-
ed in a firm conviction that only by
united action satisfactory results may
be achieved, and in a determined en-
deavor to get this action. At their
special general mass meeting last
week in the Painters Hail, they de-
clared the original demand won and
the SO wage scale established ali thru
the district. A clear-cut resolution
was adopted, demanding quick and
decisive action from the Building
Trades Council. This resolution was
adopted by an unanimous vote Of all
the members present, filing up all
the seats and standing room of the
large hall.
This resolution was presented to
the B. T. c. as an ultimatum. The
painters are the strongest force in the
3. T. C. was compelled to take i'm
ters withdrew their affiliation. After
a heated discussion on the floor, the
B. T. c. was compelled to make inn
mediate action. 1t seems that they
really mean it this time. AS soon as
the resolution to take over the paint
ers' strike was adopted, a communi-
cation was sent to the Master Paint
ers' Association, demanding confer
ence with the striking painters. Some
of the building trades levied a per
capita tax ON their members for the
strikers, and others are to follow.
IL is expected that scab painters will
not be tolerated by the building trades
from now on.
Congress In November.
NEW YORK. June ia call 10 the