Evening star., 1932-04-19
BUILDING TRADES
TO FIGHT PAY CUT
Reduction of Wages for Work
on Six U. S. Projects Is
Feared by Unions.

Overtures for 80 per cent slash in
the wage scales of major groups of
union building mechanics, submitted
recently by individual employers groups,
were met today with declaration by
a spokesman for the Washington Build
ing Trades Council that such q cut
would be resisted vigorously"
Apprehension that acceptance by
groups of union labor Of drastic cuts in
wages might bring about movement
to lower the established prevailing
wage" levels of mechanics to be en-
ployed on the six Government build
ings in the Mall Triangle, now in early
stages of construction, also was raised
by union leaders.
Projects Are Listed.
These projects are the Labor Depart
ment, Auditorium, Interstate Commerce,
Post Office Department and Depart
ment of Justice buildings, for which
bids have been called for the super
structure work, and the Archives Build
ing, for which the foundations soon are
to be started.
Proposals for reduction Of the union
labor scales have been under considera-
tion by employers groups in recent
weeks, but every effort was made to
keep the matter confidential in the hope
agreements could be reached amicably
with the union locals without any dis
putes on work now under way. Secrecy
was broken yesterday, however, when it
was revealed that plasterers on the new
addition to the National Geographic So
ciety Building on Sixteenth street had
LAo 1yrtJ rrr1,n e.,
accept a 80 per cent cut. That project,
however, is virtually finished, and no
difficulty is anticipated in completing
the work there.
Relations between the Building Trades
Employers Association. the Contractors
Association and the Washington Build
ing Trades Council, union organization.
remain amicable, but there were reports
today that some contracting firms had
raised the threat of open shop on their
work unless wage reductions were ac-
cepted.
No Formal Negotiations.
No formal negotiations have been
entered into by either the employers
association or the labor council as vet,
it was pointed out by spokesmen for
both sides, discussions so far being car
ried on between the individual trade
groups affected.
the labor council that the Asbestos
Workers Union had agreed to a cut
from $l2 to $40 per day, but only on con-
dition that the higher pay be restored if
other building trades groups declined to
accept reductions.
Published reports this morning said
the local Paperhangers Union had ac-
cepted a reduced scale, but this was
fatty denied today by Harry Wells, sec
retary of the union, who declared that
no action as yet had been taken on the
matter.
Wage agreements affecting seven of
the 80 building trades unions are COM
ing to the end of their terms and are
subject to conference, but in case new
agreements for new periods are not
reached, the old scales are to be con-
tinued in force. a union leader ex-
planned.
Members of the Building Trades
Council, it was reported, generally are
taking the position that present wage
agreements should be continued for one
year. A spokesman for the council de-
clared today that union mechanics
could not possibly afford to take a 80
per cent cut in wages because of the
very small amount of work in progress
here.
Carpenters Refused Cut.
The carpenters union, he reported,
had met a proposal for 80 per cent
cut in wages with a definite refusal
The carpenters wage agreement, he
said. expired the first of May.
The prevailing wage scales estab-
Iished last year here under authority Of
the Bacon-Davis act, are substantially
the same as the scales of local union
mechanics.
In case union labor here agrees to re-
duce scales, labor Official pointed out
today, 1t would be at least possible for
q government contractor then to carry
an appeal to the Department Of Labor
for reduction Of the existing prevail
ing scale as determined under the for
mer, higher scales.