Evening star., 1939-06-06

Strike. Slows Down
100 Construction
Projects Here
Arbitration Conference
Called This Afternoon;
Peace Prevails

Progress on 100 construction pro-
jects in the Washington area slowed
materially today as the building
laborers strike entered its second
day. because several hundred skilled
workmen were unable to perform
their tasks without helpers.
Peace prevailed on all fronts,
however, and an arbitration con-
ference was scheduled this afternoon
| at 3 o'clock between representatives
OF the Carpenters District Council
and the Master Builders Association
in an effort to avert a threatened
Walkout of 1000 carpenters Monday.
Howard T. Colvin, Labor Depart
ment conciliator who arranged the
carpenters-b builders session, said that
efforts were being made to arbitrate
differences between the laborers and
the contractors, but that it was un-
likely anything definite would de-
velop until after this afternoon s
meeting.
PlcketS to BE Withdrawn.
Representatives of the Washing
ton Building and Trades Council
announced early this afternoon they
had received assurances from the
Building Laborers District Council
that pickets would be withdrawn
from all jobs affected. 1t was ex-
pected the pickets would finish their
patrolling today, but would not re-
sumo tomorrow
The Building and Construction
Trades Council held a meeting this
morning at which it was voted to
request withdrawal of the pickets.
The Council also decided to remind
all general and subcontraetors that
all union labor would refuse to work
If non-union laborers were en-
ployed.
A council member stated officials
OF the laborers' union had promised
there would be no interference with
the cornerstone-laying scheduled
for Thursday at the new Scottish
Rite Temple, Sixteenth street and
Columbia road NV, should the
strike still be in progress on that
day.
Tension arose early this morning
on the picket lines at the Mellon
Art Gallery project, when police
were called as a precaution after
strikers had turned back a supply
truck. The matter was settled
amicably, however, and trucks were
permitted to enter.
Tension at Art Gallery.
Some 1,60O members of building
laborers locals of Washington,
Hyattsville, Md, and Alexandria.
Va, remained on strike today, ac-
cording to union officials. A number
OF workers. 1t was said. have re-
turned to work on projects in which
agreements have been reached.
The precise number of bricklayers.
carpenters and other workers who
have been laid off as an indirect re-
suit Of the strike could not be de-
termined today, but it was estimated
to be several hundred" at least.
SOme JODS Stym1e0.
At the Government Printing
Office project alone more than 100
skilled laborers were reported un-
able to continue without unskilled
and semi-skilled assistants and at
the University of Maryland's mil
lion dollar Public Works Admins
tration program at College Park,
Md, it was reported that the strike
OF 18l laborers had affected the
operations of I'll other empoyes,
| and that all work would halt by the
end of the week unless the dispute
is adjusted
The building laborers, affiliates
OF the American Federation of La
Dor are demanding increases Of
10 and 25 cents an hour. respec-
lively, for unskilled and semi
skilled workers who now receive 10
/ cents an hour.
Building projects involved in
clude several Government buildings
as we'll as enterprises in nearby
Maryland and Virginia.