Evening star., 1946-05-14
Construction Council
Saves Charter by
Abandoning Board

The Washington Building and
Construction Trades Council late
yesterday agreed to the disbanding
|of a local labor industry board and
thereby saved its 25-year-old charter
from revocation.
The agreement with the American
Federation of Labor Building and
Construction Trades Department
Executive Committee was announced
after a two-hour hearing at AFL
headquarters, 901 Massachusetts ave-
nue. NV. Officers of the local coun-
Gil, which embraces q unions here,
were undecided after the meeting
whether to request the department
executive group for authorization to
set up another jurisdictional board
similar to the one which was dis
approved.
The hearing was on charges that
the Washington council participated
with representatives of builders and
contractors organizations in board
established 18 months ago but never
recognized by the AFL Executive
Committee. Although a brief an
Inouncement after yesterdays session
did not mention it, discussion was
reported to have centered on coun-
|tercharges that the threat OF re-
voking the Washington councils
charter grew out of that groups
continued opposition last November
to employment of an extra man
whose only duties were to turn on
and off an engine generator on a
welding project at Andrews Field.
New Request Permitted.
1T was mutually agreed by all
present to abide by the constitution
of the Building and Construction
Trades. Department" Herbert Rivers
secretary of the National Building
Trades Department said after yes
terday's hearing, THAT means the
Washington Council will have to
disband the Joint Local Jurisdic-
tional Board. The councils charter
is not being revoked"
Mr.. Rivers added that under the
organizations constitution, the
Washington union officials could ap-
ply in writing for executive COM
mittee recognition of another such
board. Frank Howard, executive
secretary Of the Washington Coun-
Gil, commented after the hearing
that I'VE were not surprised by the
decision" He did not indicate what
the next step would be. Other men,
bers said they probably would dis
cuss the possibility of asking for ex-
ecutive committee recognition of
such a board.
Spokesman for the Master Build
ers' Association, District of Colum-
bia Subcontractors Association,
Washington Building Congress and
other employer groups in this field
said they were undecided about
their next move on any effort to re-
establish labor r-industry board.
Randall C. Wyant, secretary -treasur-
er of the Master Builders and also
secretary of the Jurisdictional Board
from which the Washington Council
agreed to withdraw, said he inter-
preted the outcome of yesterdays
hearing as leaving the way open for
such move, but is uncertain that
it will be taken.
Testimony Denied.
Mr.. Wyant, Carl O. Romberg,
vice president of the Subcontractors
Association, A. w. Lee of the Build
ling Congress, and C. w. Humphries
Of the Master Builders Association,
which is affiliated with the Asso-
ciated General Contractors of
America, yesterday afternoon asked
the AFL committee for permission
to testify at the hearing, but it
was denied.
Representatives of the builders
said they came equipped with evil
dence that the local jurisdictional
board had averted at least nine
strikes here during the last year.
Several officials of the Operating
and Hosting Engineers, Local n,
were outside the hearing room for
some time, but they did not take
part in the discussion. Their pres
ence indicated that the feather
bedding" issue was taken up be-
cause the jurisdictional board in
the dispute last November ruled
that a welder should not be allowed
! to operate machine without help
1 ~ t&~ l.