The union times., 1945-12-29
Failure Of Wage AdjustmentBOdy To Approve Pact
Both Labor And Employers Have Agreed, But
 Board Doesn't Act

A ue-up Ot the entire building and construction industry of New York City on Jan. 1 was considered a definite possibility this week if the Wage Adjust ment Board of the War Labor Board does not approve a wage and-hour master plan of the union and employers groups be- fore that date.
 SIGNED IN OCTOBER
 This master blueprint designed to maintain peaceful labor reIa- tiOns in the industry for five years, had been signed on Oct. 26 by the Building and Construction Trades Council for the 13O,OOO workers in the business and Building Trades Employers Association for the contractors and was immediate Iy submitted ~tO the Wage Adjust ment Board for approval.
 As the agreement was to become effective on Jan. 1, both union and employers representatives became concerned when weeks went by with- out action by the board. Both Cover nor Thomas E. Dewey and Mayor elect William O'Dwyer were ap- preached, it is understood for assist ance to obtain an early decision from the board, and 1t is known that they have been exerting some pressure on the point but apparently with little success.
 TELEGRAM SENT
 On Wednesday Howard McSpe- don, president, and John J. Bren- nan, secretary, of the Building Trades Council, sent an urgent telegram to Herbert Rivers, mem- Der of the board and secretary treasurer of the building and com structiOn trades department of the American Federation of Labor. limiting of a walkOut unless the board took favorable action of the plan.
 "The Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York" wired the union leaders, "on special order of business today, Dec. Is, at their meeting assembled, voted unanimously to make effective the pro- posed master agreement with the Building Trades Employers Associa- tion on Jan. 1, on behalf of all the trades, parties to this agreement.
 ''In order to avOid any possible stOppage by our trades and to sta- biIize conditions in the building and construction industry here it is imperative that every effort be made to have this proposed agree ment acted on and approved before Jan. l. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated"
 TERMS OF, PACT
 The plan, for which the thirty unions in the business and the con tractors have been hoping and work ing on for years, provides for seven hour day, IS per cent increase in wages and six paid holidays a year or, in lieu of this, 3 per cent con tribution by the employers to union welfare fund.
 Although the council signed for all the trades, the plastererS, bricklayers and marble workers have declined to go along, insisting upon a six-hour day. It was explained that this would present no obstacle to the stabilization program as it will be possible to make separate agreements with these three organizations.
 James O'Hara, member of the Wage Adjustment Board, said last night on the telephone that the board would be prepared to an- nOunce its decision before the first of the year but would offer no hint what the decision would be.
 STOPPACE IS FEARED
 Christian c. Norman, chairman of the board of governors of the em- ployers' organization, who, with Will liam c. Wheeler, secretary, signed for the employers association, voiced fears that stoppage would result on the first of the year if the wage board withheld its assent.
 ''In the event that a stoppage did result,'' he said, cit would mean that from 25,OOO to 3O,OOO men presently employed in the building industry here would be thrown out of work and about $2OO, ,OOO,O worth of construc- tion, much of it sOreIy needed housing, would be haIIed.''