Montana labor news., 1939-12-14

ORGANIZES
BUILDING TRADES

WASHINGTON. II Signing of the
first industrial union contract in the
building industry here was an
nounced by Chairman A. d. Lewis
of the United Construction Workers
Organizing Committee, an affiliate
of the Congress of Industrial Or
~ganization.
Parties to the contract are the
UCWOC and Construction Industry
Employers, Inc, an association of
local builders and contractors re-
Gently organized with headquarters
at 1101 Vermont Avenue, N. w.
Signatories to the contract for the
UCWOC are Mr.. Lewis, Thos. P.
McTigue, chairman of the D. c. Con-
struction Workers District Confer
ence, and the officers of Local Union
No. 80, UCWOC. For the Gle, Inc,
the contract was signed by Richard
". Frey, president of R. w. Frey,
Inc, and chairman of the negotiating
committee.
Elimination of jurisdictional dis
putes and other abuses associated
with the craft union form Of organ
ization is the cardinal objective of
the contract. All workers on the
job of any contractor no matter what
type of work they may do shall be-
long to the same union.
Grievance machinery to settle dis
putes without stoppage of work is
provided by the contract. Both
parties agree that there shall be no
suspension of work because of any
dispute until there has been resort
to the grievance machinery. Selec-
ton of an umpire is provided to de-
eide cases that are not settled by
direct negotiation.
The contract calls for the eight
hour day and the five-day week,
with time and a half for overtime
and double time on holidays and
Sundays. A standard wage scale
based on SO per day for journeymen
is embodied in the contract. Safety
standards to protect the workers are
provided under terms of the con-
tract. There is a check-off for
union dues.
Some 80 or 40 contractors cover
ing all types of work, are included
in the membership of the Construc-
ton Industry Employers, Inc, and
the total number of workers COW
cred by the contract will run into
thousands. The contract covers all
types of work, private and govern
mental, and stipulates equal treat
ment Of the workers whether on
private or government work. The
Davis-Bacon act wage standards
apply on government work.
An apprentice system included in
the contract offers opportunity for
training younger workers under
union conditions and eliminates past
abuses in this respect. There is a
graduated wage scale for appren-
tees based on time worked in the
industry.
Commenting on signing of the con-
tract, a joint statement by Mr. Lewis
and Mr. Frey said:
"The completion of this contract
is n of the most important events
in the history of the construction
industry. It marks the beginning
of a new day for builders, workers
and the public.
"The wage scale will standardize
the largest single cost factor in
building and provide continuity of
work and harmonious relationships
or the part of employees and en-
ployers toward the problems con-
fronting the industry.
'"The District of Columbia is to be
congratulated on being one of the
first cities of the nation to adopt the
modern industrialized form of or
%ganization in the building industry.
Industrial unionism offers the only
effective answer to ancient craft
union abuses with which the indus
try has been confronted for so
years"