Evening star., 1933-02-08
UNION CARPENTERS
PLAN SHOWDOWN
Wage Cut Demanded by Gov
ernment Contractors e.
fective Tomorrow.


hour for showdown between union
labor and contractors on six big build
ings here as to the wages of carpenters,
organized labor today was endeavoring
to avert either lockout or strike, bat
stood adamant against a proposed wage
cut.
Subcontractors on six Government
buildings have announced the wages Of
carpenters will be reduced from $ll to
IS day bsgining tomorrow morning
and the carpenters have announced
they will not accept the cut in the
middle of the job.
The Treasury Department, under
which most of the work Is being car
ried out, continues to maintain a
"hands-or" policy and appears to be
waiting watchfully for developments to-
morrow morning.
Meantime, indications came from
union sources that at least one large
general contractor may be opposed tC
the cut. but there was no definite indi-
cation from any of the general contrac-
tors as to what they might do.
Henry w. Blumenberg, internationa
representative of the United Brother.
hood of Carpenters and Joiners Of
America, was actively participating
with local union officials in an en-.
deavor to prevent a tie-up of work
George Myers. business agent for ths
District Council of Carpenters, was un-
derstood to be conferring with the gen
eral contractors with view to finding
If possible. the position they will take
in the matter.
Blumenberg, in a statement today
said he was hopeful thsre would be nc
lockout and that he felt the Treasury
Department should act to force con-
tractors to pay the scale of $11 here
tofore in effect. He objected strenu-
ously to the contractors attempting tc
cut wages in the middle of the jobs
but said that the union could not stop
a contractor from asking for readjust-
ment in wages for future work"
Scale Here Held High.
A representative of one of the con.
tractors, in indicating his approval oil
the subcontractors' move to cut wages
pointed out the union wage scale here
was higher than in any other large
city.
What will happen tomorrow morning
is a matter Of vital interest to organ
iZed labor throughout the Capital. II
both labor and the contractors refuse
to change their positions, it appears
certain there will be lockout" while
If an attempt is made to substitute
non-union men there may be a strike
OF all building trades, tying up siS
major construction jobs employing
thousands Of men.
At meeting of the Building Trades
Council Of the District last night, the
whole question was taken up, but nc
formal action was decided upon, ac-
cording to John Locher, secretary Il
the council. Locher said, however
members Of the building trades union:
will not work on building where
non-union men are employed.
The subcontractors, Blumenbere
charged, have done so without re.
gard to the provisions of the prevail.
ing wage law or the fact that they
figured their subcontracts on the wage
rate that has been paid on the great
bulk of the work now under construc-
tion by the District and Federal
agencies, and also on churches, ware
iiouoSS, 1uoAAicSo PAoSCos CIV Ah w ooAi-
ington.
These same subcontractors. Blumen.
berg said. have disregarded the Treas
ury Department and the Department oi
Labor and their agreements with the
carpenters local."
Company Is Criticized.
The firm of Skinker & Garrett, which
Is erecting the inaugural stand in front
of the Capitol and the reviewing stanc
in front of the White House, was criti.
cized yesterday by w. T. Allen of In.
dianapolis, member of the General EX-
eCutive Board of the United Brother.
hood of Carpenters and Joiners OF
America. Allen has been investigating
the situation here concerning construc.
ticn of the inaugural stands:
In a formal statement following {
meeting Of the District Council of Car
penters here. Allen charged that thi!
firm was the only one working on in
augural stands which was not paying
the union scale of Sill a day to carpen'
ters. Skinker & Garrett is paying 81
a day to union men ON the job. Mr.
Allen declared. But carpenters, he said
ARE on the point of starvation, and
anxious to make some money. hav'
taken the JOD dC tIle Price llhtU.
These union men, Allen said. "wht
are now in the employ Of Skinker &
Garrett will be dealt with and penal
ized under the laws Of our brother
hood"
Holds Agreement Made.
Allen declared there had been al
agreement or understanding" amoni
bidders on inaugural stands that the.
would pay Sill per day for carpenters
However. 1t Is plain to be seen." h
said. that at least one of the successful
contractors has turned turtle by refus
ing to pay his men the union scale o
wages as per the meaning and inten
of the gentlemen's agreement"
1T Is plain to be seen." said Allen
that the only reason that Skinker 8
Garrett can have in bringing about al
this trouble to the local committee ant
architect Is for their own selfish gain
to grind every dollar they can out o
these unfortunate men, and at the sam
time try and break down the funda
mental issue Of bringing back prosperit.
by paying their men a living wage tina
they are entitled to, thereby giving then
a chance to put what money they ma.
earn back in circulation, the only wa.
10 help us out of this depression"