Evening star., 1947-02-26

Almost every one has read and heard
much about labor "jurisdictional dis
putes" But most persons will confess
readily they are vague concerning what
is meant by dispute of that kind.
Just what is meant, anyway, by the
expression, ''jurisdictional dispute? 1t
is true, of course, that controversies of
that kind may arise from a multitude
of causes. Each is likely to have its
distinctive features. But, as general
proposition, jurisdictional dispute oc-
ours when two labor unions disagree
between themselves as to which is en-
titled under union regulations, to do
given job of work.
Thus, even though individual disputes
may differ, perhaps it may be enlighten-
ing to make a detailed examination Of
one specific case and to study its causes
and its effects.
Appropriate for that study is the
dispute between sheet metal workers and
carpenters at the new 400-bed, 81, 500 900
Georgetown Hospital now nearing COM
pletion at Thirty y-eighth street and Res
ervoir road NV.
Because of the disagreement there
over the installation of lockers and
metal cabinets, eight sheet metal work.
ers have been on strike since January 8.
The result has been to bring sheet metal
work to a standstill.
While no idleness has been caused
among other labor crafts, the dispute
has caused much inconvenience. It has
been necessary to work around" the
metal installations remaining to be put
in place.
Might Shut Down All Work.
Contractors say, unless the dispute
Is settled soon, it will be matter OF
a short time only until all work will
have to be shut down, throwing $50 to
ITS men into idleness and delaying COM
pletion of the building. If the dispute
is settled however, the expectation is
that the work will be finished about
April /, as originally scheduled.
Work on the hospital has been in
progress since August, 1945, under a
general contract awarded to John Nc
Shain, Inc. The Standard Engineering
Co. was awarded the sheet metal work
subcontract
Construction progressed wholly with
out Interruptions until the recent dis
pute arose. There had been no labor
controversies of any kind. The con-
tractors were singularly fortunate in
obtaining materials as needed. AS a
consequence, practically all of the ex-
terror work has been completed. Only
the interior remains to be finished, and
that was proceeding well on schedule
until late last December.
The point then was reached for the
installation of about ITS lockers and
cabinets. The lockers were to be placed
in private and semiprivate rooms for
the storage of clothing, and cabinets
were to be placed in operating and util-
ity rooms as containers for surgical in
strumentS and other equipment.
Because the lockers were furnished by
company the Excel Metal Cabinet
Co. of New York City which employed
carpenters to build them, the job of in
stalling them was claimed for carpen-
ters affiliated with the Carpenters Dis
trict Council, AFL, here. The carpen-
ters further claimed that lockers and
cabinets were classified by the union
as "trim," which automatically gave
them the work. So they started the
installation. Their right to do the work
was upheld by the Executive Commit
tee of the District council
Appeal for Decision.
The carpenters action Immediately
was protested by Sheet Metal Workers
Local 102, also AFL, which demanded
the job for members of that local. The
contractors said it made no difference
to them who did the work. That was
matter for the union to decide.
In accordance with prescribed pro-
cedure, the metal workers filed an ap-
peal with the AF'L Building Trades De-
partment, of which Richard Gray is
president.
Mr.. Gray replied by citing as appli-
cable to the dispute an agreement of
March 81, 1928, between the Interna-
tional Sheet Metal Workers Association
and the United Brotherhood of Car
penters and Jeiners of America.
The essential paragraphs of that
agreement, so far as the particular dis
pute was concerned, read:
"It is agreed that members of the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners of America shall erect and in