Evening star., 1949-06-04
Building Strike
High|ightedby
Union Election
= Right and Left Wings
& Of Luborers' locuI in
4 HotIy Contested Poll

HOtty SOntSSISu TOu
Everything remained static on
the labor strike front today while
one Of the unions involved in the
vast construction tie-up held a
hotly contested election.
Building Laborers Local "a,
torn over issues of the strike and
between left and right wing prin-
ciples, was voting for its officers
at Laborers Hall, SIS New Jersey
avenue NV.
The 2.400 laborers struck last
Thursday, a day after hundreds
of AFL carpenters walked out
and shut down 500. .000, 900 worth
of commercial, Government and
apartment house construction in
the area.
Four Bakeries Struck.
There appeared to be no chance
that either of these strikes, or that
involving 100 driver-salesmen of
the Bakery Salesmen's Local 80 Of
the Teamsters' Union. would be
settled before next week.
The pie statesmen struck four
bakeries, completely knocking out
production of 10000 to $4,000 pies
daily. An additional 200 bakery
employees were idled by the drivers
wage demands.
The Building Trades Council,
which includes the striking labor
ers but not the carpenters, was on
record today as refusing to con-
done any violence at struck prof.
ects.
Frank O'Connor, council secre-
tary, said the stand was taken
after a couple of f1areups" yester-
day.
Firm Signs Separate Pact.
At one OF these a project at the
National Institutes of Health, Be-
thesda, was shut down after
dispute In which laborers charged
carpenters with doing their work.
The project is being built by the
McCloskey Co., which repeatedly
broke from the ranks of the
Master Builders Association earlier
this week and signed a separate
agreement with the Carpenters
District Council.
Another incident occurred at
the Lencshire Apartments project
at Wisconsin avenue and Woodley
road NV, where 40 laborers with
the striking union persuaded 70
members of another local to leave
the job.
The third arrest growing out of
the strike occurred yesterday eve
ming at Laborers' Hall during a
meeting of Local IA.
Alexander Moore, 80, colored. of
the 700 block OF. Howard road NE.
was elected from the hall by a
special policeman and charged
with disorderly conduct. He post
ed S. collateral.
Henry Thomas. president of Lo-
cal IA. said the man failed to
produce a paid-up union card and
that members were considerably
aroused. Mr.. Thomas charged
Moore was planted" in the meet
ing for political reasons. for ne
was seated next to James Kimbro,
who is Mr.. Thomas opponent in
today's election.
The element opposing the in
cumbentS in the election has
charged that the strike was called
Thursday to push their campaign
interests. This Mr.. Thomas de-
MED, pointing to an 8-to-1 vote
in favor of the strike. Mr.. Thomas
also denied charges printed on
an unsigned leaf1et that he was
q Communist.
The Building Trades Councils
Executive Board approved the
laborers' strike. saying that "in
the face of present cost of living
their demands were reasonable" ~
Mr.. O'Connor said.
Mr.. O'Connor said the board
asked the laborers not to put out
picket lines over the wage issue.
But all cases Of strike breaking
would be investigated by him and
he was empowered to order picket
lines where the offense was
proved, the council secretary
added.