Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-08
Labor Department Workers
Are Keeping in Close
Touch, Says KerWin.
BUILDERS ASK SM00T
TO STUDY QUESTION
Trade Unionist Editor Declares
Negotiations Between Factions
Progressing Satisfactorily. -,

Federal conciliators of the Depart
ment of Labor are preparing to take
part, in case their services are request
ed by the disputants, in the efforts 10
settle the present wage controversies be-
tween the building contractors and the
building trades employees of Washing
ton, which threaten to increase the cost
materially of the Governments $780,
100000 building program and OF all fu-.
ture public and private building in the
District.
Hugh L. Kerwin, director Of the
United States Cancellation Service, said
this morning that representatives of the
Labor Department are keeping in close
touch with local developments, with the
possibility in view of assisting in settle
ments satisfactory to both sides and to
the public.
Danger to Future Work Cited.
1t also was learned today that officers
of the Master Builders Association have
asked Senator Smoot of Utah, chair
man of the Public Buildings Commits
sion. to interest himself in the matter,
in view of the fact that increased wages
ployes would add big sum to the cost
Of the Federal building program In this
city and doubtless would require IN
creased appropriations.
Edwin H Rosengarten, president Of
the Master Builders Association, in his
recent letter to President Hoover warm
ed against the danger of building OPP
erations in the District being hampered
or brought to Standstill by the in
creased cost. =
That there is any possibility Of this
was denied today by John w. Colpoys,
editor of the Trade Unionist and for
nier conciliator of the Department OF
Labor
With compromise agreement already
signed by the contractors and the REIN
forced concrete rodmen, conferences are
continuing between the builders and
other classes of employees The differ
ences between the employers and cement
ffnIshers were being considered at
meeting this afternoon. The workers
are asking an increase from $1.12I2 an
hour to SIPS an hour.
Says Few Oppose Raise.
Mr.. Colpoys said there had been no
strike of rodmen on the job at the In
ternal Revenue Building, as reported re-
Gently. He had been informed, he
said, that no rodmen were at work when
the supposed walkout took place, and
that the men went to work later when
new scale had been agreed upon.
Only small percentage of the local
builders are opposed to the proposed
wage increases. according to Mr.. Col
poys. He added that the negotiations
are progressing satisfactorily and early
agreements are expected.
Commenting on the statement of Mr..
RcSengarten in his letter to President
Hoover that the increases demanded by
the union men would hamper the Gov
eminent program and are not justified
in view of the high wages agreed upon
three years ago and the decreased cost
of living, Mr.. Colpoys said:
Five-Day Week Is Involved.
1.-THE unions connected with the build
ing trades would have asked this in
crease to meet the present high stand
ard of living regardless of whether
there was a Federal building program.
The possibility Of delay in this pro-
gram is simply being used by the con-
tractors and builders as a false claim
of patriotism to cover their desire 10
evade giving the workmen a living
wage"
An important feature of the con-
troverSy is the union demand for a
five-day week. This has greatly COM
plicated the efforts to reach new agree
ments in the place of those with half
a OOGCAA W1lAAAII Tic uCA1
few weeks.
The agreement between the employ
ing plumbers and the union employees
expired day before yesterday. While
no new agreement yet has been signed,
it was learned today that the employers
have yielded on several important
points. including the request of the
workmen for an increase from Sill to
Sl2 day. 1t is probable that 50-cent
increase will be granted at once and
an additional so cents in two or three
months.
A five-day week is being asked by the
marble settlers, in addition to a wage
increase from S12 to $13 day. No
wage increase is being asked by the tile
settlers. but they are demanding FIVE
day week. The cut stone workers, whose
agreement expires June /, are asking
for wage increase from $12 to $13 a
day and f1ve-day week.