Evening star., 1937-07-16
DC. COURT T0RU[E.
ON UNION DISPUTE
Proctor Issues ShoW.CauSe
Order Against A. F. of L.
for August 7.

upon August to decide the jurisdic-
tional dispute concerning beer-wagon
drivers that has been going on since
1900 between the International Brew
cry Workers Union and the Inter-
national Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Charging the teamsters with re-
sorting to threats, boycotts, sabotage
and other violence in a Nation-Wi
drive to enlist beer drivers, the Brew
cry Workers Union asked late yes
terday that they be enjotned and
that the American Federation of La
Dor, with which both unions are af-
filiated, be restrained from encourag-
ing the teamsters in their campaign.
!. Through Attorneys Martin F.
O'Donoghue and Lawrence j. Mills,
Jr.. they also requested the court to
order the federation to expunge from
its record action taken in 1888 giving
the teamsters jurisdiction over the
brewery drivers.
Justice James M. Proctor ordered
the officers Of the A. F. of L. and
the Teamsters' Union to show cause
August 7 why the injunction should
not be issued
The brewery workers organization
is so-called industrial union, while
the teamsters are united in a craft
union.
Agreement Made.
Claiming 43,581 members in 81
a States and in Canada, the members
Of the Brewery Workers Executive
Board who filed the suit, said their
union was organized in 1879 in Gin
cinnati. In 1881, a city-Wide strike
was called in New York, but failed
because the beer drivers were not
members
Accordingly new union was formed
August 10, 1884 under the auspices
OF the knights of Labor, and included
all brewery workers with the excep-
ton Of foremen and clerical en-
loyes. Three years later it affiliated
with the A. F. of l.. After II more
years, the Teamsters' Union affiliated
with the federation. and in 1900 pre-
sented to the A. F. of L. its claim
TO jurisdiction over the beer drivers
It was rejected, the court was in
formed.
= Again and again the teamsters
raised the same contention, and in
1913 the Executive Council of the
A. F. OF L. again ruled in favor of
the Brewery Workers. the suit stated.
Then, in 1915 the two unions en-
tered into a written agreement by
TO -
= the brewery workers having all brew
cry drivers and also inside" workers
In soft-drink bottling plants, and the
brewery workers permitted the team
sters to organize the drivers Of trucks
Of soft-drink concerns.
Repeal and Rejuvenation.
During the prohibition era the
Brewery Workers Union decreased in
size, but with repeal underwent a
rejuvena ton.
The immediate controversy dates
back to April 6. 1888, when the presi-
dent of the Washington State Fed
Grafton of Labor wired William Green,
president of the A. F. of l.. and
defendant in the present suit, for in
formation concerning the jurisdic-
tional dispute
The suit quoted Green as replying:
Jurisdiction over teamsters and
chauffeurs granted to International
Brotherhood of Teamsters. Chauffeurs,
Stablemen and Helpers"
A hearing on the matter was held
by Green April 90, and on May 2,
1888. he notified the Brewery Work.
ers that the federation's Executive
Council had given the Teamsters'
Union jurisdiction over the beer driv-
ers. This action was ratified the
same year by the federation conven-
ton.
Dispute Costly.
The ruling violated the agreement
incorporated in its certificate of afili-
alton, the Brewery Workers Union
charged, and preached the contract
between the brewery workers and the
teamsters. adding that 1t was uncon-
stitutional as violation of the due
process clause.
Subsequent to the federation's &C
tion, the court was told, the team
sters notified the rival union they
planned a Nationwide drive to bring
the beer drivers into their organiza-
ton.
In pursuance of this plan the team
sters have been guilty of overturn-
Ing trucks, slashing tires, assaulting
lIFYI/ N n