Evening star., 1947-02-04
Trades Controversy
Threatens Work on
Georgetown Hospita!

The month-old jurisdictional dis
pute between sheet metal workers
and carpenters threatened today to
bring to standstin work on the
new $500 900 Georgetown Hospital,
which is nearing completion.
This prospect was acknowledged
by spokesmen for contractors who,
however, would not be definite con-
cerning how close the threatened
paralysis may be. "But 1t is close"
one remarked.
They estimated the halting of
work would mean idleness for 800 to
$50 craftsmen Of other unions now
employed on the job.
Thus far, the only work inter-
rupted has been the installation of
the air-conditioning system in the
building. This was halted January
8 when the six sheet metal workers
employed on that job withdrew In
the dispute over whether they, or
carpenters, should install metal
lockers in the structure. Carpenters
are doing that work which, accord
ing to spokesmen for Sheet Metal
Workers Local 102, Is, properly q
Job for their union.
Meanwhile, If any progress has
been made toward settling the pro-
longed controversy, no report of 1t
had been received here today by the
metal workers local, the Carpenters
District Council, the contractors or
Subcontractors.
John McShain, Inc, has the gen.
eral contracts, while the Standard
Engineering Co., Inc. has the air
conditioning subcontract.
The available information indi-
Gated that the negotiations may have
begged down, for reasons unex-
planned in Miami, Fla, where the
AFL Executive Council is in session.
Labor officials. who, according to in
formation here, are expected to at
tempt to negotiate the dispute are
attending that meeting. ~
Spokesman for the unions involved
and the contractors said they under
stand that w. E. Hutcheson, inter-
national president of the carpenters.
and Robert Byron, international
head of the sheet metal workers.
were to attempt to settle the contro-
versy. 1t was expected also that
Richard Gray. president of the Ma
tional Building Trades Union, would
attempt to bring the two officials
together.
However, information from Miami
quoted Mr., Hutcheson as saying he
knows nothing" about the hospital
dispute and that the matter would
be handled by the carpenters office
in Indianapolis.
1t was said, however, that the con-
troversy was referred to Mr.. Gray
several weeks ago for an opinion
concerning whether the locker in
stallation is, under union regula-
tions, job for sheet metal workers
or for carpenters. His reply cited
regulations which, according to the
metal workers, left the dispute ex-
actly where it was.
While questions at issue were
highly technical, they were described
as involving the type of screws used
to secure the lockers in place and
the type of material into which
those screws are driven. The car
penters were quoted as claiming
that the materials used in placing
and holding the lockers are those
upon which members of their union
should be employed. The metal
workers claim that it strictly Is a
metal job. .-r
Practically all the work remaining
to complete the 40o-bed hospital Is
in the interior, contractors said. The
interior jobs are of many types-car-
penter work, plastering, plumbing,
electrical and others.
Any interruptions in those jobs, 1t
was acknowledged, necessary will
delay completion of the building,
now scheduled for about May /.