Evening star., 1925-03-08
Organize to Fight Union De-
mands by Tieing Up Money
for All Subcontractors.
SEEK TO KEEP COSTS
OF HOMES REASONABLE
Decision Comes in Face of Pros
pective Demands From Three
Local Crafts.


wages on the part of the building
trade unions in the District of Column
bia, "a the leading builders and con-
struction financiers of Washington
have organized to maintain the pres
ent standard of wages.
Claiming that pending increases
asked by four of the leading build
ing trade unions here and any other
increases which might be asked are
at present economically unsound and
would add materially to the cost of
homes and bring increased rents. the
Operative Builders Association of the
District of Columbia, as the new or
ganization is called, passed the fol-
lowing resolution.
Text of Resolution.
Resolved that no member OF this
association or sub-contractor en-
ployed by any member be permitted
to pay a higher wage rate than that
fixed al the present time by the diff
ferent crafts for their members"
This resolution was recently adopted
by the "a members whose names have
heretofore been withheld from pub
lication.
The officers of the organization
state that the present move on their
part is no attempt to reduce the pres
ent standard of wage in the building
trades here, but merely to prevent in
creases.
In view of the fact that four of
the leading local unions have asked
increases and have set dates by which
their rdemands must become opera
tive. there is possibility of great
discord in the building trades here.
Officials of the association state that
they are entirely against a large gem
eral lookout and would do everythiIs
to prevent one, but point out that
they consider the state of things herr
so serious as to warrant a show
down" if the local building trad
unions insist a raise in wages.
Not only will these firms refuse u
pay increased wages, but they Will
not give any work to sub-contractora
who meet the demands Of the unions
on the question Of increased pay.
Tie Up Finances.
Officials of the organization also
say that they have taken counsel
with those who supply finances for
the construction of buildings and
state that at present approximately
so per cent of the money available ful
building in the National Capital would
not be available for increased loans to
those who have granted increases i'll
wages over the standards of today.
At present the situation in the
building trades here is as follows:
Painters and paperhangers have ask
ed for a raise from SO per day to $40
and have set the date for this to go
into effect as of April 5. The master
painters association has refused the
increase.
The plumbers have asked a raise
from $40 per day to s11 per day and
have asked this be effective May =.
The master plumbers or employer
subcontractors will decide upon the
question Tuesday. Under the plan
of the organized builders, if they de-
eide to give the increase no con-
tracts would be let TO them.
The rough-stone masons have ask
ed for a raise from SO to s11 per day
which they demand to be effective by
April l. The master stone masons
association will decide upon the
question tomorrow.
Alarmed At Report.
Alarmed at increases in New York
City, where officials of the Operative
Builders Association say one union
has demanded $40 per day and Ave
day week. the organization of local
builders states that its members
absolutely will not pay any further
increases here"
Rufus S. Lusk, executive secretary
of the operative builders, states that
if the increases demanded by the
unions, as shown above, are granted
it would mean that more than $1,000
900 would be added to the cost of con-
struction in the District during the
year.
In a prepared statement for the
monthly publication of the organiza-
tion the following lines appear in
reference to the charter of the or
ganization: we are chartered to fos-
ter and improve the building indus
try of Washington and also SO far
as within our power. to protect the
general public's interests. We would
be going very much amiss from the
very structure OF our association IL
we were to fail to view with genuine
concern the anticipated increases in
union wages about to be demanded
in our city. The following appeal is
made to the unions, not to make
demand for increased wages, not to
pass restrictive regulations or at
tempt to reduce the working days"
Time to stop Now.
organization the members are told in
regard to further increased wages:
THE time to stop is now. Grant these
increases and soon we shall be faced
with prohibitive building costs. II
the building mechanic does not see
this simple truth by using his head
in very modest thinking effort. the
builders and contractors, by taking
firm stand. must make him not only
see the truth, but feel the truth"
Officials of the orSsn'Sation in ex-
pressing their determination to pre-
vent any increases will use the fol-
lowing methods:
1. Refuse to grant increases Them
selves.
q Refuse to contract with subcon-
tractors who grant increases.
g. With the support of those who
supply money for construction, refuse
to give increased loans where a raise
above the present standard of wage
is involved.
1t was also explained that this is
not a fight against the unions or
against any one in particular. but
merely to prevent higher wages.
The Operative Builders Association
of the District of Columbia was
formed here and Incorporated under