Evening star., 1939-07-26
Labor
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Bricklayers' Union, was member
of the most recent peace COM
mittee serving for the Federation in
negotiations with the c. I. o.
Mr.. Tracy and Mr.. Bates were the
active leaders, incidentally, in the
recent strike of A. F. of l.. building
workers against new requirements OF
the Federal work-relief system.
Although no immediate comment
was forthcoming from the Fedora
ton unions most directly affected
William Green, president, declared
confidently that the c. I. o. in
vasion is doomed to failure.
Building trades workers will not
subscribe to such an economic phi
losophy as is expounded by the c..
I. o." Mr.. Green said.
While there seems little doubt if
the c. 1. o. really undertakes this
effort as aggreSsively as 1t an
nounced its intentions, that the in
terunion conflict will lead to all
manner of job tie-ups, strikes and
counterstrikes, Mr.. Lewis empha-
sized that special provisions will be
made by the committee for the ell
mination of unauthorized strikes,
jurisdictional disputes and lockoutS
and for the peaceful adjudication OF
labor disputes"
100000 in Industry.
Noting that there are some 3,000,-
900 workers employed in the con-
struction industry, with only about
one-third of this total now enrolled
in the A. F. of L., Mr.. Lewis claimed
that the C. I. o. has received
thousands of requests firm lndivl-
duals and groups OF construction
workers throughout the country
asking for organization and aftilla-
ton with the c. I. o.
These requests have come to us
because the construction workers
desire a modern form of organiza-
ton which will bring the benefits
of collective bargaining to all the
workers, will eliminate jurisdictional
disputes and will improve their
wages and working conditions.
Jurisdictional disputes among the
specialized building trades unions
have always been a plague to the
Federation and its orderly function
ing in the building field.
Mr.. Lewis announced that num-
ber of local industrial unions al
ready chartered by the c. 1. o. in
the construction field will be trans
ferred to the new national organi-
Zation and that further organizing
will take place entirely on an in
dustrial basis without distinction be-
tween classifications of employment
in the industry. Dues will be uni
form at $1.50 per month, he said,
with no initiation fee charged for
joining.
"A system of transfer cards will
be arranged for the benefit of union
members" he added, "and arrange
ments will be made under the union
agreements for training skilled me-
chanics so that workers may not
have to learn their trades on nom
union jobs"
FORMAL ODJeCt1VeS.
Formal objectives of the new COM
mittee were stated as follows:
l. To unite into one organization,
regardless of creed, color, national
ity or classification of employment,
all workers in and around construc-
ton work.
2. To increase wages and improve
the conditions of employment Of the
members of the organization and to
secure through proper negotiations
joint agreements covering wages,
hours and working conditions of its
members.
3. To stabilize the construction
industry through the elimination Of
unauthorized strikes, jurisdictional
disputes and lockouts, and to pro-
vide for adjudication of disputes
arising between employers and en-
ployes in the industry.
4. To provide for the education
and better living conditions of our
members and their families and to
obtain greater participation in the
economic and political affairs of our
country.
In addition to A. L. Lewis, the
committee will include Philip Muir
raw, head of the steel workers and
admittedly one OF the most power
full and effective organizers in c.
I. o. ranks; James B. Carey, presi-
dent of the Electrical Workers; r.
j. Thomas, president of the United
Automobile Workers, and Sherman
H. Dalrymple, president of the
United Rubber Workers.
Headquarters are to be established
August l in the United Mine Work.
ers Building here.