Evening star., 1939-09-28
A. Prevents
Further Strife
In D. {. Building
Concrete Mixer Strike
Called OFF Pending
Union Adjustment

Further trouble in Washington's
strike-ridden building construction
industry was averted today when
the American Federation of Labor
building trades department, in con-
vention at Cincinnati, ordered local
tradesmen to call off a threatened
strike over jurisdictional dispute
between the International Union of
Operating Engineers and the Broth
erhood of Teamsters.
The Executive Board of the local
Trades Council had issued an ulti-
matum notifying all contractors
that, beginning at noon today, all
concrete-mixed trucks should be
driven by members of the Drivers,
Chauffeurs and Helpers Union, Lo-
cal No. 500, instead of the Engineers
Local No. II.
The council decreed, admittedly
to force a showdown in the dispute,
that all trades should walk out i'm
mediately on any job if concrete
truck operated by member of the
engineers union was permitted to
unload.
Negotiations to Continue.
The Associated Press reported
from Cincinnati that orders to halt
any such action were sent to Arthur
Shoenthal, vice president of the
local council, by the national con-
vention, pending further negotia-
tions to settle the dispute.
Efforts were reported under way
in the Ohio city to settle the row,
with Daniel j. Tobin of the Team
sters' Union and John Possehl of
the engineers presenting their re-
spective sides of the argument.
Mr.. Shoenthal said that the local
action-placing authority to call the
strike in the hands of a building
trades committee-had not been
rescinded by the order from Gin
cinnati, but that walkouts simply
would be postponed pending reports
from negotiators in Ohio.
Although the teamsters' local,
which has just resumed operation
of dump trucks after temporary
settlement of strike over a wage
dispute, claims Jurisdiction over the
concrete-mixing trucks, John P.
Shields, executive of the engineers
local, has insisted that his union
has had contracts to drive the
trucks since 1881, several years prior
to the organization of the drivers
local.
I'VE don't care how they settle it,"
one official of the local trades coun.
Gil said. I'VE issued the ultimatum
to force the matter to the attention
OF the building trades department
In the hope that a strike can be
avoided"
Afbitrators Named.
Meanwhile, Dr. John r. Steelman,
chief of the Labor Department
Cancellation Service, announced ap-
pointment of the two arbitrators
who are to render a decision on the
demands of the Drivers, Chauffeurs
and Helpers Union, Local 639,
which recently ended a two-week
strike under an arbitration agree
ment.
Howard T. Colvin, assistant to Dr..
Steelman. was named to represent
the Cancellation Service and Fred
j. Rice, former assistant United
States attorney here, was named as
the outside" arbitrator.
Mr.. Rice formerly served as legal
adviser OF the national mason con-
tractors code during operation of
N. R. A. and as chairman of the
Jurisdictional Board of Awards for
the Building Industry under
auspices Of the Washington Build
ing Trades Council.
AT the same time, Capt. F. w.
Hoover, executive head of the Well
fare and Recreation Association.
said that a conference last night
between negotiators for the union
representing the associations ware.
house employees, the Labor Depart
ment conciiation service and him.
sell decided to suspend negotiations
1or a wage increase asked by the
warehousemen until after the first
OF next month.
AT that time, Capt. Hoover said
the conferees decided, the associa-
ton will negotiate with the United
ONCE and Professional Workers
Union, Local No. 27, which last
week authorized strike for the
warehouse employees, and the United
Cafeteria Workers Union, both af.
nliates OF the Congress of Indus
trial Organization.
AT the request of the Labor De-
partnent, the warehouse employees
postponed the pending walkout.