The union times., 1947-01-18
Barry Attacks 'Hand-Me-DOwn' Housing Policy
Conn. Council Convention Warned By O'Kane Of Need For Strong
 Organization

The most important problems which the building trades unions of Connecticut must tackle during the next few months include fight ing the wave of anti-labOr Iegisla- ton which a reactiOnary Congress is now determined to pass: and work for the passage of legislation similar to the Wagner-EIIender- Taft National Housing Bill.
 BARRY, O'KANE REPORT
 This was the keynote of the an- nual convention of the Connecticut State Building and Construction Trades Council, held at the New Haven Labor Temple Sunday. The annual reports to the convention by President Michael J. Barry and Secretary-Treasurer James O'Kane, both of whom were unanimously reelected, warned that there were difficult days ahead, in which de- feat could be averted only by a strong aggressive policy by inc building trades unions, working to- gether with all labor.
 The housing situation engaged much of the time of the convention. Presi- dent Barry, in his report told the delegates. that I've as building trades men, know there can be no real solu- tion of the housing problem until the Wagner-Ellender-Taft national hous- ing bill is passed"
 s.uANn ME n0WN,s
 Veterans, he said, will not have adequate housing until large units are built, with rents averaging $35 to $50 a month. The hand-me-down hous- ing policy which our government now has is national scandal" Barry said.
 Secretary Treasurer O'Kane pointed out that the building trades nationally completed SIS billions of construction in record time dur ing the war, but now the opponents of labor would like to place the blame for the housing shortage on the building trades. He urged all locals to affiliate with their local councils and the State Council stfOr even some of our own contractors have fallen for the high pressure anti-labOr propaganda, and we must be ready and able when the time comes to meet the situation with united front.e
 IMPORTANT ACTIONS
 A number of important actions were taken by the delegates. They voted to oppose all attempts to lift or relax rent controls; voted to fight any re- duction in income taxes based on fiat decrease regardless of size of income; authorized the executive board to send delegations to Washington to appear at committee hearings; and ap- proved the legislative program of the Connecticut Federation of Labor. A special fight will be made to prevent discrimination in employment against middle-aged workers, who are forced to sign waivers which deprives them of the benefits of the worEmen's com pensation law.
 "Details Of fhe resolutions
 adopted, Gnd the election Of Of-
 tfcers sUiU be tOund in adjOin-
 ing cOIumns-EditOr.
 Speakers at the convention were headed by John J. Egan, State Labor Commissioner. They also included To- seph M Rourke, Secretary Treasurer of the Connecticut Federation of La bor; Prof. Neil Chamberlain, of the Yale Labor Management Center; and Thomas Yoczik, chief of apprentice frainino for fb;e c+a4a
 PRESIDENTS REPORT
 Those people who would well come depression, in order to ''puf labor in its place." are un-Ameri- can", President Barry told the delegates in his annual report. But we will have a depression, he warn- ed, if profits go too high, and wages are too low. In his report, Barry said:
 "l946 was an important year in the history not only of the state building trades, but all organized labor as well. The year saw return to free collec- tive bargaining between labor and and proved once again that in war and in peace, American labor has the know-how to meet the production needs of this country.
 OBSTACLES OVERCOME"
 No other nation in the world has made as rapid a transition from war time economy to peace-time footing as has the United States. This has been done despite the fact that labor's take-home pay has continued to de- cline because of rising prices, and de- spite the fact that labor has had to carry on a rearguard action at all times to protect its hard-won gains.
 NEVER SATISFIED
 Despite this great record. there are those in public and private life who are not satisfied. These people will never be satisfied until organized labor is shack1ed. These are the peo- pie who will welcome a depression, in