The union times., 1945-06-09
Joint Committee
 Is Established


 time that when building ma- terials are released and large construction projects under taken there will be a shortage of skilled labor to do the necessary work. General con- tractors and Michael J. Barry, President of the State Build ing Trades Council, discussed this problem with Prentice White, Administrator of the State Housing Authority, and asked his cooperation in de- velOping sound apprentice ship standards.
 MT. White suggested that two committees be organized, one representing general contractors and one labor, to develop ap- premiership agreements in the carpentry and masonry trades. The agreements would be state wide m scope and acceptable to both the general contractors and the labor interests throughout Connecticut.
 SHORTAGE FORESEEN MT. White pointed out that ac- cOrding to the United States Gen. sus of the Construction Industry. the total value of construction in Connecticut during the year 1929, exclusive of that done by industrial concerns, public utilities, and | others by their own maintenance departments, was $149,OOO,OOO, and there were 1902 skilled crafts men available at that time. From estimates received from the Brick layers, Masons' and Plasterers' In- ternational Union locals, there will be I,423 trained craftsmen avail able in the state during the first ; year of postwar construction, de- cline of 7l per cent. This certainly proves the seriousness of the sit- uation and need for action.
 A meeting of the joint committee was held in the State Office Building on May 22 and Mr. White was named ! permanent chairman. The personnel is as follows:
 General Contractors Committee: :. M. Allyn Wadhams, Wadhams-May Company, Hartford; Charles S. Phelps, H. Wales Lines Company, Meriden; Paul Hawley, Torrington Building Company, Torrington; Edwin Moss, Bridgeport; and J. A. St. Cermain, New London.
 Labor Committee: Michael ]. Barry, Carpenters Union, Hart ford; George Joslyn, Sheet Metal Workers Union, Meriden; James O'Kane, Iron Workers Union. New Haven; George Sabo, Electricians Union, Waterbury; and Carmen DiCorcia, Bricklayers, Masons and Plasterers, Hartford.
 William c. Ennis, deputy commis- sioner of the State Department of I Labor, who also is secretary of the State Apprenticeship Council, Per- ley Hovey of Bridgeport, and I. Harry Hyman of Hartford, both of jwhom are associated with the Ap- prentice Training Service of the War Manpower Commission, have been very helpful and cooperative in de- ! ve1oping this program.
 When the final wording of the apprenticeship standards has been agreed upon and approved by the State Apprenticeship Council, an important factor in meeting this shortage will be the returning vet erahs, who, under the Serviceman's Readjustment Act (1944), com- monIy called the CT Bill, may en- ter training under approved pro- grams and receive $50 per month lin addition to their apprentice wages eff single) and $75 subsist- ence benefits if the veteran has de- pendents. Such benefits are limited fo honorably discharged veterans with at least 90 days service and continue for a period of one year plus the length of military service, provided further that the veteran was under g years of age at the time he entered the armed services.
 As result of these apprenticeship agreements, opportunity will be given not only to the returning veterans but also to the young men of the future to learn trade on fair basis. This will help these men to meet their ob-