Evening star., 1933-09-18
STRIKE THREATENS.
.nE-UP OF HEATING.
PLANT OPERATIONS.
Boi|ermakers and Ironwork-
ers in Dispute Over Work
on Smokestacks.
MAY DELAY STEAM
FOR 81 BUILDINGSl
Several Other Trades, Depending
on Progress, Face Possible Loss of |
Time-Peace Efforts Begun.

A strike of boilermakers in a juris-
dictional labor dispute with ironwork-
ers on the central heating plant, at
Twelfth and c streets southwest. today
threatened to delay indefinitely the de-
livery of steam to SO Federal struc-
lures. including all new construction
In the downtown area
The dispute arose over erection of
steel smokestacks at the heating plant,
both the boilermakers and ironWorkers
claiming it is their work.
AS a result boilermakers have quit
all their work throughout the building.
not only tying up erection of all the
boilers, but several other trades depend
ing on progress of the boilers.
The strike, according to both repre-
sentatives Of the contractors and the
Government, will involvc' virtually all
trades on the building unless it is set
tied soon. If it ties up work on
the heating plant, which is vital part
OF the Governments new public build
ing program, there is dangeS that de-
livery of heat may be so much de-
layed that some of the large buildings
now nearing completion cannot be oc-
cupled until some time after they are
hnlshed and ready for occupancy.
Peace Efforts Under Way.
Efforts are under way to compose diff
ferences between the two unions in
volved in the jurisdictional dispute and
according to certain labor leaders, ne
gotiations may get under way shortly
to bring the matter to head. Some
progress has been made. but the dis
pute is still far from settled
Meantime more than 1000 men we're
still out of work at the big Govern
ment building which is to house the
Interstate Commerce Commission. Gov
ernment Auditorium and Labor Depart
ment because of another jurisdictional
dispute between ironworkers and car
penters over which trade should install
some radiator covers. While negotia-
no definite decision has been reached
At the Central Heating Plant the
ironworkers continued to erect the
smokestacks, while the boilermakers
were idle. Two principal contractors
were concerned, the Rust Engineering
Co. of Pittsburgh and Washington, gen.
eral contractor for the building, and the
Combustion Engineering Corporation of
New York. which is installing the
boilers.
L. w. Fuller, superintendent for the
Rust company. estimated that within
10 days about 130 men would be in
volved as the dispute would tie up more
ard more work. He looked to the
Washington Building Trades Council
for settlement of the difficulty.
Charles Maak, superintendent of the
Combustion Engineering Co., which is
installing the boilers, estimated this
work was about 80 per cent complete,
but that due to the strike, 60 boiler
makers, bricklayers and laborers were
idle
The dispute has been referred to the
Building Trades Council, which has ap-
pointed committee to look into the
situation. This committee recommend
ed that the work on the stacks be split
evenly between the boilermakerS and
the ironworkers. Representatives of the
the boilermakers toLay said they could
not agree to this kind of split, be-
cause the ironworkers already had about
80 per cent of the work on the building.
The proposed $3.50 agreement was
recommended by committee from the
Building Trades Council composed of
Charles F. Scott of the metal fathers;
c. F. Preller of the electricians and
William H. Myerly of the elevator con-
structors. The proposal stated in the
first place that "the building is not
covered by either of the contestants, :"
and offered as an equitable solution and
decision that there will be a $3.50
division of the work between the crafts
involved, until such time as their re-
spective international officers have ad-
justed the above grievance"
Harry Dehler of the boilermakers
local said the $3.50 proposal had not
yet been accepted by his organization
and claimed the ironworkers already
had most of the work on the building.
w. A. Calvin, international vice presi-
dent of the boilermakers' union, said
his organization contends the iron
workers violated an international agree
ment between the two crafts, which, in
his opinion, shows the stack work be-
longs to the boilermakers.
On behalf of the steel workers, it is
claimed that the work is theirs, and
that union rules call for operation of
derricks and hoists by iron workers, and
these hoists are necessary in lifting the
stacks.
In some labor circles it was predicted
today the dispute might eventually be
handled by the Building Trades Depart
ment of the American Federation OF
Labor, of which Michael j. McDonough
Is president.