The union times., 1947-09-06
Many Complex Yet To Be Solved
Chicago Meeting Of All Trades Thoroughly Can
 wasting Situation

llOIldI AdUO1 NCIdC1OllS DOdIU VIII take affirmative action in virtual ly all important building and construction trade cases under the Taft-Hartley Act. It hopes, however, that the unions and their employers will evolve a vol untary plan to settle the vexing questions of jurisdictional dis putes.
 A series of conferences on build ing labor problems has been held by the NLRB and officials of the unions and the construction indus- try, it was learned today. The con- ferences affect more than l 500, 900 workers and industries aggregating several billion dollars.
 Meet in Chicago
 In the meantime, the nineteen un- ions in the American Federation of Labor building and construction trades department were canvassing the situation at meeting in Chicago this week. The union leaders will then re- turn to Washington to confer with the NLRB.
 The main aspects of the discus siOns hitherto have been concerned with the complexities of the build- ing and construction industry as af- fected by the Taft-Hartley Law. The difficulties which the discussions re- vealed fall into two categOries. They are as follows:
 Problems related to the historic (union shop) tradition of the build ing trades men who will not work with non-union employees.
 The method of adjusting disputes now in effect on voluntary basis among the unions and the employers and how to relate it to the NLRB's new task under the Taft Hartley Law; namely to hear and determine jurisdictional disputes. These con troversieS are c1assed as unfair labor practices under the act.
 Board Action Required
 The NLRB had hoped to avoid dealing with jurisdictional controver- sies, especially those in the building trades. However, the new law com pels the board to take over these disputes and the plan to be followed, unless the parties settle the problem themselves, will be to name trial ex- aminers to hear the cases, make rec concentrations and submit them to the board for final decision.
 Labor Board members realize, that most jurisdictiOnal disputes are difficult, and that those in the build- ing trades present peculiar prob lem because of the rapid introduce ton of new materials and substitute methods of construction.
 While the NLRB has had juris- diction over building trades labor relations which are clearly in in- terstate commerce, it has seldom exercised its authority because of the cOmplexity of the problems.
 When the parties talked with the members of the NLRB at separate conferences light was thrown on the difficulty of meeting all the prelimi- naries that might be connected with the desire of the unions and employ CTS to continue doing business as they had in the past, which is for the un- ion to remain the source of man. power supply.
 To qualify for the union shop the building unions which have never been certified by the NLRB would have to hold elections. The discussions were concerned with how such ballOting might be held in view of the seasonal and inter- mittent nature of the industry.
 One inquiry was: Should the cleo ton be held when the construction job is hole in the ground? Should it be held when the brick1ayers, per haps, are working on the first floor, on the middle section or above 1t? In each case the number of bricklayers would be different and this would raise a question of fairness in the election.
 Widening of Elections
 It is unlikely that elections, if and when held, will be among employees of individual employers in the con struction industry. It IS more prob able that the total number of crafts men who work for the member of an association would be boiled, since contracts are usually made be- tween the trade associations and the local crafts. This would probably be done at the beginning of the season.
 One of the disturbing aspects of the situation as affected by the Taft-Hartley Act is the problems that may arise out of the potential law suits by those who are not parties to the agreements between the employers and the unions.
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