Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-09
STRIKING LATHERS
DELAY 6 PROJECTS
Commerce Building Affected
by Demand for So Daily
Increase.

Part OF the construction work on the
huge new home of the Department of
Commerce and half dozen large
private building operations in Wash
ington has been halted by strike by
union fathers employed on the jobs,
who, it was revealed today, are de-
manding So increase in daily wage
Local members of the union brother
hood of the wood, wire and metal
fathers recently demanded an increase
from $12 to $13 per day, effective
July /, and further increase from S13
to $14 per day, effective october /.
These demands we're not granted by
the Employing Plasterers' Association,
D. c., Inc, and the union building
trades employees affected laid down their
tools July and declared "walkout,"
pending decision in negotiations with
the employing organization.
Six Buildings Affected.
In addition to the new Commerce
Department structure, the strike has af-
fccted the new department store build
west corner of Fourteenth and F
streets; the addition to the department
store of Frank r. Jelleff. Inc, 1915 F
street; the new Holy Name College
Building, in Brookland; the new Ma
tional Christian Church, on Thomas
Circle, and the Sacred Heart Convent
Building being erected on Park road
west of Sixteenth street, according to
statements made today to The Star.
1t could not be ascertained this
morning whether work on other large
projects here had been halted by the
wage dispute raised by the fathers, but
it was understood that the strike was
in effect on all local projects on which
fathers were employed
Union wood, wire and metal fathers,
as we'll as virtually all union building
trades employees engaged in operations
in the District, now are on the five-day
week basis. In most cases the shorter
week was agreed to by employing or
ganiza tions with little serious discus
sion, in virtually all cases the union
laborers retaining approximately the
same weekly wage, although working
half day less per week.
Employer Group Rejects Demand.
The Employing Plasterers' Association
of the District, 1t was reported today
from an authentic source, rejected the
demand for the 50 increase in wages,
members of the association taking the
position that they saw no justification
for the raise in pay.
While it is estimated that there are
approximately 200 fathers located IN
Washington at this time, it was said
that something less than half this num-
Der are engaging in the current walk
out"
The strike, however, may assume
greater proportions, it was intimated to-
day, in case an early settlement of the
controversy is not reached, since at the
time of the walkout on the Commerce
Department structure there were but 2
hand full" of fathers employed. This
work there. it is pointed out, had
reached the stage at which a much
larger number of men would have been
set to work.
Meeting Expected Tomorrow.
Committeeman representing the en-
ploying plastererS were to canvass the
situation again today. and tentative ar
were made for a meeting
tomorrow. or shortly, with spokesman
for the union organization.
While negotiations in the matter have
for some time, there were indications
today that the employers would not
give way to the demands for the boost
in wages and that, therefore, the nego-
tiations may remain in the deadlock"
that was reported to exist.
Neither officials of the Washington
Building Trades Council nor officers of
Local. No. 9, of the Wood, Wire and
Metal Lathers' International Union,
could be reached today for comment
on the strike or to give an explanation
of the reasons for the increase in wages
A. F. L. Remains Clear of Strike.
The American Federation of Labor
is taking no official cognizance of the
strike, although it affects progress in
the construction of the largest of the
Federal building PROJECTS in Washing
ton. it was stated today by the building
trades department OF the federation
The fathers union is affiliated with
the building trades department, it was
said. but in such cases the matter
would lie in the hands of officials of
the local union and of the information
al union organization in negotiating
with the employing body