The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-08-15
NON. UNION
WAR IS
BEGUN
Organized Labor Meets Move
to DispIace It in D. G.
Building Operations

Confronted again by the specter
Of non-union labor gains in Wash
ington building operations, the war
drums of local oraginzed labor
rumbled summons to union MEM
bers today.
Plans are complete for an in
tensive campaign against indi-
vidual builders who endeavor to
supplant union wOrkmen with un-
organized craftsmen.
Campaign Against Firm
Following conferences Of officials
| of the District Building Trades
Council and the. Central Labor
Union, Washington Building
Trades Defense Association has
been formed to carry on the labor
offensive.
According to statement by
Henry Miller, chairman of local
| labor's adjustment committee. the
first attack will be directed against
the Joseph Shapiro Company. local
building trade firm, which recently
installed a large number of non
union employees on its operations in
this city.
The committee from Central
Labor Union headquarters which
called on officers Of the firm, say
that the concern, as an individual
organization, is willing to employ
union men, but is under the thumb
of high interests.
Blame Realty Bankers.
These interests, the union leaders
say, are the real estate bankers Of
the city, who finance construction
work here almost entirely.
The defense associations active
opposition to the steps taken by
the real estate firm, 1t was said,
will be reflected in the use OF
pickets, speakers before local un-
ions and literature.
I'VE contemplate an educational
campaign" said Mr.. Miller today,
ito make not only the union peo-
pie. but the public generally realize
that, as matter of well-known
fact, the union-built home is the
safest and most enduring structure.
Union contractors buy the best
of materials and employ the best
Of workmen. The people can at
ford the best, because it costs no
more than the house built by work
AIcH "HOSc AudAiCJ anu 0NHSAA SAASS
is unknown.
Branded as "FlOaters"
There is another point, too, that
we want to bring home to the peo-
pie. A large percentage Of these
non-union workmen are known as
'foaters,' drifting from one job to
another in different cities. We
think it only fair to insist that such
work be done by trustworthy men,
who have their homes here and
spend their money with the local
merchants"
For the first time since the build
ing trades strike here in 1907, the
unions comprising the building
trades group are solidly behind
single campaign. their leaders say.
All but the bricklayers are in
the association, and this union. now
involved in a jurisdictional dispute,
is unable to enter at present
The campaign is going further
than the Shapiro case, it is said,
but no other activities will be under
taken by the defense association
at this time.
The idea behind the whole plan
is to use upon non-uniOn builders
the same tactics which the Opera
tive Builders Association is said
to have employed-that of importing
large number of workmen at
tached to one trade, ard causing
their employment as n body by
certain builders, throwing Inion
men out Of employment.
Pickets to Be Used
The defense association, once the
| present campaign has run it's
course intends to go further, using
the same strategies against in
dividual builders.
The use of pickets and other in
| fIuences, the union men believe,
| will delay the sale of newly con-
structed houses, as members of
| the unions will be advised to pur-
chase union built homes only.
The unions do not believe that
! they can stop the sale of houses
constructed under non-union Condi-
| tons, but are certain that their
campaign will cause serious delays,
to the detriment of the builder at
1 facfed.