Evening star., 1939-08-18
Sand Strike
Affects 1000
On Road Jobs
Conference Slated
In Effort to End
Smoot WuIkout

Co. became increasingly evident to-
day with the announcement that
more than 1000 laborers on high
way projects in the District are idle.
Hundreds of other workers at big
Federal and District building con-
struction jobs in the city-on which
concrete work virtually has been
abandoned-have been forced tenn
porarily from pay rolls.
AS Smoot officials, union repre-
sentatlves and Labor Department
conclllator prepared to meet at 2
pm. today, Capt. H. C. Whitehurst
director of highways in the Dis
trlct, revealed the extent of idle
ness in his division.
The hardship of the strike rests
heavily on these men who have no
connection with the strike" he COM
mented. Many of the 1000 men
who have had to lay down their
tools on District highway projects
live from hand to mouth at best
and if this thing continues they
OF assistance"
Figures Smaller.
Similar situations existed on scores
OF building projects in the city, but
the f1gureS are smaller and in many
cases men left idle by lack of con-
crete materials have been put to
work at other jobs.
construction officials agreed. how
ever, that these odd Jobs would
come to an end within a few days
and unemployment would become a
more serious problem
Capt. Whitehurst stated that more
serious than the temporary abandon
ment OF work on big highway jobs
In the city is the necessity of leaving
open cuts that have been made in
streets to allow for placement of
new utility services. Hundreds of
these holes are scattered through
out the District. he said.
The highway director commented
that only about 200 laborers remain
on jobs in his department.
Figures on idleneSS existing
among other projects were not as
easily approXimated as laborers on
building jobs are hired through
several channels and in number
of cases work output can be doubled
on one job when another has to be
abandoned.
Many drivers of trucks for con-
crete companies remained idle today,
but most of the companies reported
no lay-offs, stating that the men
were being kept on pay rolls in the
hope that the strike would end soon
Meanwhile Howard T. Colvin,
Labor Department conciliator, made
plans for the second conference later
today.
Il nope that this afternoon we can
at least discuss the problems in
volved in the dispute" Mr.. Colvin
commented. The conferees appar-
emily were unable to do this at yes
terday's brief session.
mo change" Mr.. Colvin comment
ed tersely late yesterday after the
informal parley with company off,
Gals and leaders of the striking
Local No. 22075 of the Sand and
Gravel Workers Union, an Amer
ican Federation of Labor affiliate.
The Labor Department official is
still hopeful that the workers can
be put back to work while contract
negotiations proceed
Returns to First Demands,
The union, meanwhile, returned
to original demands for an eight
hour day and closed shop after the
company turned down a compromise
offer Of 10-hour day and prefer
ential" shop, according to strike
leaders.
The meeting yesterday lasted but
few minutes, and company officials
declined to comment on progress.
The strike began Monday, with
approximately 200 workers leaving
their posts. The union claimed that
little more than a score of employees
remained on duty.
The new National Gallery of Art is
one OF the few construction projects
which has not felt the effects of the
strike. In other quarters concrete
work has been virtually abandoned
Less than a fourth of the per-
sonnel at the Thomas jefferson
Memorial project was on duty to-
day. Employees on hand were lay
Ing forms and performing odd jobs.
AT the Navy Yard, where a num-
Der of construction projects are un-
derWay, engineers stated that work
there is not radically crippled, be-
cause heavy concrete is not being
poured at this time.
One officer commented, however,
that if the strike lasts week or 10
days longer, lit will affect us seri-
ously."