Evening star., 1933-01-23
THREE LABOR UNITS
DISPUTE RIGHTS
Post Office Building Strike
Complicated When EIec-
tricians Join Dispute.

The strike on the Post Office De-
partment Building at Twelfth street
and Pennsylvania avenue was further
complicated today when electricians
entered the controversy between the
hosting engineers and the steamfitters
over the question Of who should operate
motor generators in the basement.
While negotiations were under way
between officials OF the hosting engi-
neers. who are on strike, and the
steamfltters. both of whom claim the
right to operate the machines, it be-
came known that the electricians claim
the right at least to maintain the
motors, by one hours work a day
There were unofficial expressions of
hope that the differences might be
settled sometime soon, but nothing
definite was forthcoming by noon on
the actual results of the conference.
Claims Maintenance Right.
The electricians, whose business
agent. Sam Terry, carefully investigated
claim that they have the right to main.
tenance of the motors.
According to Sherman Seeley. man
ager for Mehring g. Hanson Air Con-
ditioning Co., which installed the first
OF the motor generators for his COM
pany. the electrical workers will be
given the work of one hour a day on
maintenance OF the motors, in case the
strike difficulty Is settled by union Off
Gals in favor of those who are now
operating the motors-the steamftters.
But if the decision goes to the hosting
engineers, who would then maintain
and operate the motor generator. the
electricians, it is forecast, might call
strike on their own accord
The hosting engineers are claiming
the right to operate what they claim
is power plant. But the steamfitters
and plumbers, who are using the ma
chine to furnish current for welding
galvanized steel pipe and plumbing
Throughout the building, claim it Is
their job because they say there is moth
ing to do to the machine but turn an
electric switch to start it when begin
ming work and turn the switch off
at the conclusion of work.
Two Generators in Use.
There are two of the motor gener-
ators in the building. One is used by
steamf1tters in welding galvanized steel
pipe of the ir-conditioning system and
the other is used by plumbers for weld
ing pipes throughout the building. Both
generators are located in the basement
and long wires lead to places where
workmen are doing the welding.
While some trades were able to 60
forward with work on the building this
morning. 1t was estimated that about
500 men were idle on account of the
lack of hoists. The hoisting engineers
pulled off all their Is men operating
hoists throughout the building Friday
noon, and as a consequence most of
the trades on the building which need
materials, such as stone, bricks and
lumber, are idle because they have no
material with which to work. The car
penters had some lumber on hand for
work today, but 1t was estimated there
was only about one days supply A
few stone masons were busy pointing
up the stonework, but not a derrick
was lifting more stone
Oncials of the United Association of
Journeymen Plumbers and Steamfitters
and Of the International Union of
Operative Engineers were understood to
be in protracted conference today with
a view to settling the dispute. Rep
resentatives Of the International Broth
erhood of Electrical Workers were
also understood to be joining the con-
ferences this afternoon to present their
claim to maintenance of the electric
motors.
Negotiations we're believed to be pro-
ceeding under the general supervision
of the Building Trades Department of
the American Federation of Labor.