Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-24
REAL ESTATE

With the construction conditions
Throughout the United States being
maintained on basis comparable to
the record.breaking strides of n year
ago, labor in the building crafts is well
employed and conditions generally are
tranquil. Some establishments of
Wage scales have been made. espe-
cially in the larger cities. even in the
face Of the fact that wage increases
in a number of instances We're granted
June |
These are the outstanding points In
the national building situation as re-
vealed by a labor survey just com
pleted by s. W. Straus 4 Co Labor
disputes that disturbed the industry
early in tho Spring have mostly been
settled without difficulties. although
there is now a sharp controversy
ARISING between the plasterers and
hric<layers over the erection of arti.
fetal stone. field now being covered
. ny the hricklayerS in most cities. The
pla sterers are trying to claim re-
stricted rights in this phase of build
ing construction.
Settlement Is Praised.
The settlement of the controversy
between the sheet metal workers and
carpenters on the installation OF metal
trim was recently negotiated on
4 $3.50 basis by national representatives
of both unions. This settlement Is re-
garded by leading contractors as one
| of the most important jurisdictional
settlements in the last % years. for it
has been estimated that in the last
six years fully $1,000 600 600 worth of
construction has been held up by this
controversy.
al . h.. I,,r. f,if inc
la shortage of brickla yers, plaStererS
and fathers, but the situation has not
reached a stage where it has been
necessary to pay bonuses, as in for
mer years.
Conditions are somewhat unsettled
in San Francisco, Kansas City and
Cleveland. In San rancisco the tur
moil is caused by the efforts of the
international Union of Carpenters to
Nunionize that craft along the Pacific
Coast.
In Cleveland, where there was con-
siderable labor difficulty this Spring,
laborers have returned to work, but
the controversy revolving around
painters remains unsettled. There is
also a slight disturbance reported
among the union carpenters in Kan
sas City This disturbance was ere
ated by demand of the carpenters
for an increase of 12l2 cents an hour.
Chicago Has Surplus.
Chicago showed a decline in build
Ing during May and June, with the
result that builders report surplus
of mechanics in several trades, al
though it is reported that there is a
shortage of piasterers. Practically all
disputes between building trades and
employers have been settled ttp to
date, but the controversy of the Chi
cage Building Trades Council to re-
gain closed shop conditions for the Is
so-calied open-shop trades remains I'M
settled.
The strike of plasterers. which
lasted several weeks. after being called
on May Z. was settled when the EN-
ployers agreed to grant a wage in
crease from s1.5n to $1.62i5 an hour.
were granted g, wage In
crease from $3.50 to S1.62l2 an hour
on July ]. Electricians and steamfit-
ters are getting the S1.50 an hour rate,
and It is generally agreed that they
will get a wage increase to sissy an
hour on October l. Other trades, like
the carpenters. cement finishers. hoist
ing engineers and iron workers. both
and structural, are sched-
uled for wage boosts from $1.37l p to
1850 an hour on October /. Building
laborers in Chicago are scheduled TO
get a wage increase from STA to 70
cents an hour on the same date.
Builders in New York report that
labor is tranquil, and that because of
a. continued demand for building con-
struction labor is steadily employed.
The scale for stonesetters in New
York is $14 a day, while other basic
trades range from Sl1 to $l4.
Reports From Other Cities.
In philadelphia contractors report
that there is a surplus of carpenters,
plumbers. painters. stone and cement
finishers, but there is a shortage of
Carpenters' wages We're