The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1934-11-10
STRIKE TRUCE
FACES NEW
MENACE
BY FRANKLIN G.. sARTWELL


Another threat to President
Roosevelt's plea for a capital.
labor truce has developed in the
building industry in New York
and is causing the Administration
grave concern, it was learned
today.
The New York situation,
smouldering for some time, be-
came acute this week when en-
ployers met and decided to pre-
sent a united front against de-
mands of the workers for in
creased pay and fewer hours Of
work.
The action Of the employing
builders in New York, it is said,
was taken only after they had
made persistent but futile efforts
to obtain the aid of the Admins
tration in meeting what may de-
velop into serious conflict between
the employers and their employees.
The fact that the employers
were unable to obtain any asSur-
ance of consideration of the Situa-
ton by Washington officials in
advance Of an open break is said
to have resulted in a solidifying
Of their lines and Strengthening
of their determination 70 resist
the movement now under way in
several of the trade unions for
shorter hours and higher pay.
Determination of the employers
- ac;e 81 IaVNooraIc fhroa TONG
to disrupt the entire building in
dustry in New York city at time
when the Administration is max
ing strenuous efforts to rehabil-
itate the durable goods industries,
many of which would be involved
in any cessation of construction
activity in the New York area.
Likewise, any labor difficulty
arising in the industry there
would be serious from the stand
point of numbers involved, it
being estimated that close to So.
900 men are employed on building
in New York city.
Fear Blow to Industry
The attitude taken by the build |
ers in New York is that if they
comply with the demands Of their
employees for shorter hours, at the
same pay they are getting now,
the whole building industry will
be slowed down and instead of
employment conditions being i'm |
proved they will be made worse.
They reason that what the
country needs fundamentally Is
more hours of work and not nee
eSSarily more pay.
To increase the wages, they as
Sert, would result either in a de-
crease of hours of employment or
in q general decrease in building
activity because of the necessity of |
increasing prices.
Those contemplating, building, !
they maintain, either will not OF
cannot pay the increased prices. |
The only chance of increasing
building activity, in their opinion.
lies in maintaining wages at their
present level.
This viewpoint has been pre-
Sented to official Washington. 1t
was felt by the employers that If
Washington would indicate an
attitude either one way or the
other the threatened trouble in
the industry could be avoided.
Officials Silent
But Washington, even with the
severe threat to President Roose-
velt's truce which exists, was un-
willing to take any position in ad-
vance of open difficulties.
This, it will be recalled, has
been the attitude of the Admins
tration on numerous instances in
which appeals have been made by
interested groups to obtain ad- |
vance rulings which might have |
avoided labor troubles.
The Administration feels that it |
could not interfere in these cases
in advance of open trouble. no
matter how worthy the motive.
AS result, the New York build.
ing industry looms as the next |
serious threat to the truce for |
which the President recently |
pleaded.