The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-05-21
HELPERS OUT AS
BOSS PLUMBERS
LOCKOUT FAILS
Progressives D en- and
Support for Brooklyn

Plumbers helpers yesterday served
notice on plumber bosses in Manhat-
tan and the Bronx that they would
continue their strike for the five-day
week and the recognition of the union
despite the collapse of the lockout
against the plumbers.
Astonished by the rank and file re-
bellion in Plumbers Local / against
the arbitration demands foisted upon
it by the bosses and the international.
union, the Building Trades Employers
Association called off the lockout yes
terday. Using the excuse of week
old injunction which previously they
had ignored, the master plumbers
opened their jobs and asked the jour-
neymen to return to work.
In the meantime international Off
Gals had hastily deserted the city, the
executive board members scattering
to all parts of the country while Pres
ident Coefield and Secretary Burke
retreated in the direction of union
headquarters in Chicago.
Brooklyn Plumbers Local 1 contin-
ues its strike for the five-day week and
the $14 scale, determined to stay out
all spring, if need be. That victory is
probable is seen in the collapse of the
Building Employers front, Their adj
amant stand against any further wage
increases for any building crafts was
crumbling under the solidarity and
militancy of the Brooklyn strikers.
No Help from International.
International officials, exposed by
members of Local 1 as working hand
in glove with the bosses seeking to
force arbitration upon the workers
with no assurance that the shorter
week would be granted, disappeared
yesterday, leaving the Brooklyn men
to fight their own battle.
Plumbers helpers will hold a gen
eral building trades meeting Monday
night at Cooperative Hall, BAT East
72nd St., between First and Second
AYES, to consider to plan the next
steps in their fight. Many building
trades locals have passed resolutions
commencing their stand.
The Plumbers Progressive Group of
Greater New York issued statement
yesterday which commanded wide at
tention in building trades circles. 1t
reads:
Threaten Scab Work.
The plumbers of Greater New York
must learn lesson from the struggle
that is now going on in the industry.
The bosses are threatening to man the
Brooklyn jobs with non-union labor.
They do this because they have not
only the support Of the Master Plumb
ers of all boroughs, but also OF, the
Building Trades Employers Assccia-
tion--a strong powerful alliance of all
contractors in the building industry,
which is out to crush every attempt
of the workers to better their condi-
lions.
The officials Of our own United AS
ISOLATION with the methods they use,
are helping the bosses in this fight,
They threaten to dissolve Local l If
the men will not go back to work
pending arbitration. This is an mn
heard-of procedure by union officials,
while workers of their own union are
out on strike against the bosses. Tres
ident Coefield and Secretary Burke
are, by their actions, betraying the
New York plumbers and playing into
the hands of the bosses. We must say
to Them Hands Off Local l." or you
will lave to deal with the membership
Of all three New York locals.
Only thru a united front Of all
Continued on Page Three