The Washington times., 1929-08-27
Double Profit Laid to W. r. and E. at Fare Hearing
WIN BIG
j. s. BUILDING
STRIKE

Strike of the union workers
employed on the annex to the
Government Printing Office
was settled today after being
in progress more than two
months.
The million-dollar Job has been
tied up since June 10 because of
complex labor situation which cul-
minated in the walkout Of more than
zoo employees of the Rust Engineer
Ing Company, contractor for the
erection of the building.
Win Big Victory
Under the terms upon which set.
Element OF the strike was effected,
the building trades unions involved
win not only a local victory, but a
sensational national success as well.
The principal factor in the settle.
ment was a concession by the Fed
eral Government of principles for
which trade unions have long fought.
This concession is embodied In a
letter from the Treasury Depart.
ment, which states that, as a matter
OF public policy, hereafter there will
be no subdivision of contracts for
work to be done on public buildings
by the architectural and mechanical
trades.
1t was upon this feature that the
entire labor dispute hinged. The
Rust Engineering Company, a closed
shop concern, had the contract for
construction of the building of this
annex. 1t employed only union work
men in executing it's contract, which
runs close to 81 900 900. On the other
hand, while the Rust company was
at work constructing the building,
the Federal Government let a con-
tract to the Virginia Engineering
Company for installation of equip.
ment in the building.
Has Open Shop
The Virginia company works under
the open shop principle, and when
its employees went to work on the
structure, the union employees of the
Rust company walked out.
Under the policy now enunciated
by the Treasury Department, there
will in the future be no such sub
division of contracts.
In the past similar situations to
that which arose On the local Job
have existed, notably in the building
OF Government hospital at Cleve-
! land. In all OF these the building
trades unions have sought some
means OF preventing the letting of
| contracts for mechanical trades to
| nanunion concerns when union en-
| ployers had the structural contracts.
In the Cleveland case the Comp
troller General held that there was
no possibility of settlement OF the
strike by abrogating the mechanical
contract Of the non-union company.
Strenuous efforts which have here
tofore been made to settle the local
dispute have been without avail.
These included efforts by the Fed.
eral Government through the con.
Citation service of the Department
OF Labor and the architects office
of the Treasury Department. The
dispute attained national signifi.
canoe when it was appealed to the
council OF the building trades depart.
ment of the American Federation of
Labor without avail.
Hurt Friends
On the surface, 1t appeared as
though organized labor was punish
Ing the company which was its
friend and benefitting the concern
which refused to hire union men.
With the strike in progress, it
seemed doubtful that the Rust Com.
pany could complete its contract
within the time specified, while, in
the meantime, the Virginia com.
pany was claiming damages of
about $4,000 day because of the
delay to which 1t was subjected by
reason of the failure of the Rust
COMPANY to progress with the work.