Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-04-15
MEDIATOR AIMS
TO SERVE INDUSTRY
Colpoys Proposes Long Term
Wage Contracts to Stabilize
Working Conditions.

A Iong-term contract between the
union building trade mechanics and
their employees in order to stabilize the
construction industry in the District
TO take care of the present building
boom and the pending large Govern
ment contracts will be one of the
s principal suggestions to be made by
John Colpoys, mediator for the DE,
partment of Labor, should he succeed
in his efforts to bring the union men
and the building interests into con-
Mr.. Colpoys definitely has suggestions
terence, 1t was revealed today. While
MIR. Colneys has not definitely sug-
gested any one plan for amlcaOle
agreement between the two parties
TO the controversy, the long-term
wage contract may possibly be pat
termed after the agreements reached
recently in Boston, where employees
and union men contracted over pc
Rod of three years. Heretofore COLI
tracts have usually expired yearly.
Wage Question Not Settled.
Just what wage this would involve,
however, seems to be the cruX OF the
situation Whether or not the unions
would accept the present STANDARDS
over pay here for period OF three
years. thus protecting themselves
that period. instead of asking for
raiee AZ the present time, is not known.
. According to Rufus :. Lust OF the
onerstiye builders, the builders ana
contra ctors are favorably inclined TO-
ward signing a three-year agreement
at SO per day.
The painters are willing tomeet IN
conference at any time. ACCORDING 10
Mr.. Colpoys. Employers, however.
feel that If the union intends 10 insist
on an increased wage scale the meet
ing would be OF no avail.
Concession Is Granted.
Those under training in the Vet
Grams Bureau who are learning the
painting and paperhanging business,
and who have heretofore been kept
from practical experience in the SHOPS
of the master painters by acuon OF
the American Federation OF Labor.
will now be given an opportunity 10
enter these shops. Capt. II. IL. Wood
house, a member OF the American
Legion and Of the Master Painters
Association. declared yesterday that
he will announce this decision at a
meeting at the George Washington
Post here next Tuesday night.
Whether or not the sympathetic
strike movement begun last week end
will spread 10 two or three other jobs
will depend upon the outcome Of in
spection trips by Arthur Chamberlain,
president of the local painters union,
II was learned today. In expressing
their determination to stand against
further wage increases the master
painters feel that as the cost OF
paintin ghas gone up 400 per cent
since 1914 any increase in this figure
would drive away business.
Assign Cause for Complaint.
They complain that the restricted
measures placed upon them by the
union are responsible for very large
percentage OF this increased cost as
well as increase in wages.
They feel that out of the 800 per
cent increase, 125 per cent is due to
higher wages, 90 per cent to restric-
tive union rules and only So per cent
in the cost of material. They complain
that before 1914 any size brush could
be used, and that now it is limited to
inches; that the bosses cannot paint
along with-the men. thus necessitating
the hiring Of extra help. and that
prior to 1914 a man could be told
how much work he was expected
to 10.
They also say time is taken up by
the fact that a. man. on an average,
hangs only Is rolls of paper a day,
compared with about 80 rolls before
the war.
Cite Rates for Estimating.
They say that their estimates per
square yard, in rough figures, for
three coats of paint on plain wall
have jumped from 80 cents since 1914
10 about rs cents per day. Out of the
800 per cent increase, they say that
215 per cent is due to higher wal es
and union limitation rules.
No decision has been reached by the
Master Plumbers Associate as to
whether they will grant their men an
increase or not.