Evening star., 1947-02-01
Builders andAFl
Agree on Plan
ToBar Strikes
Trumun Announces
Accord, Terms 1t
Long Step Forward
By Joseph A. Fox

President Truman today an
nounced a management labor
agreement designed to prevent
strikes and lockouts in the con-
struction industry through vol
untary arbitration.
The pact was entered into by the
Associated General Contractors OF
America and the Construction
Trades Department of the American
Federation of Labor, the two DOM
inant groups in the construction
field.
1t provides for creation of a ma
tional joint conference committee
In the building industry "for the set
tlement of any dispute or disagree
ment which may arise and which is
voluntarily submitted to the COM
mittee by mutual agreement of the
parties in the dispute"
Called Big Step Forward.
The contractors group represents
management in the construction in
dustry while the AFL unit covers
about 1000, 900 workers.
In announcing the agreement at
an unusual Saturday morning news
conference, Mr.. Truman hailed it as
an important step forward and said
he hoped the principle would be
extended to other industries.
While the President was not cer-
tain about the matter, he said he
was under the impression the agree
ment covered jurisdictional strikes
and secondary boycotts. He had
asked legislation on this subject In
his state of the Union message.
The agreement stipulated that the
Joint Committee would not assume
jurisdiction over jurisdictional trade
disputes unless the parties to the
iurisdictional trade dispute volun-
tarily and by mutual consent request
the committee to take jurisdiction"
Asked why the White House was
chosen as a springboard for an
nouncement of the agreement, MIR.
Truman said he thought its import
ance justified its coming from the
White House.
will Push Procedures.
In a joint letter forwarding the
agreement to the President. the con-
tractors and labor officials said:
"Haying established this voluntary
machinery to settle disputes in this
important industry without stoppage
of work by lockout or strike, our
organizations intend to exert every
effort to see that these procedures
are used wherever possible TO settle
any dispute that may arise-oVer
the terms OF new contracts or over
the Interpretation of existing agree
ments.
This important industry Is an
xious to accept its responsibility
both labor and management. we
will make our contribution toward
providing the highest possible meas
ure of industrial peace.
Halls Recent Labor News.
Mr.. Truman commented that the
labor news of the past 10 days has
been good. He referred to an agree
ment in the steel industry to erase
wage lnCQulllCS diiA w SAAS
under the present contract untll
April 80, and a contract agreement
between the United States Rubber
Co. and the CIO.
In acknowledging receipt OF the
agreement from the contractors and
AFL officials, the President >told
them "the public and the Govern
ment look to you to make it work. !"
"The making OF these agree
ments." Mr.. Truman said, indicates
a widespread willingness to resolve
industrial disputes without resort to
force.
1--WE are moving closer and closer
to our ideals of free collective bar
gaining"
Background of Agreement.
In their letter notifying the Presi-
dent of the building trades agree
ment, the contractors and labor
officials gave this background:
1.-THE plan was ratified in principle
a