The Seattle Star Newspaper, October 14, 1919, Page 12

PAGE 12 THE SEATTLE STAR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1919. Master Builders Adopt AMERICAN PLAN Following six weeks of strike and delay in the building in- dustry, the Master Builders’ Association has broken off fruit- less negotiations with the building trades unions and has an- nounced that hereafter its members will do business on the good old American plan of employing men on their merits without regard to whether or not they belong to a labor or- ganization. We believe that the public of Seattle, which is informed of the impossible demands for wage increases on which the strike was based, and the refusal of the unions, through their official representatives, to modify their demands or to return to work pending arbitration, will approve and support the Master Builders in their determination, as above stated, and assist them in bringing back to a normal basis the construction of homes, commercial and industrial buildings of vital impor- tance to the increase of population, commerce and industry in this city. We, The Associated Industries of Seattle, after sincere ef- forts to bring this strike to a satisfactory settlement, and after a close analysis and study of the fruitless negotiations which have led to the break between the Master Builders and the unions, have decided to back up the Master Builders with every legitimate resource at our command, because we be- lieve the Master Builders have taken a just and intelligent stand; the only course they can take as citizens interested in the upbuilding and prosperity of Seattle. Facts About the Building Trades Strike On September 2nd carpenters, plasterers, ce- ment finishers, hod carriers and plasterers’ help- ers and building laborers went on strike for in- creases in wages ranging from 11% to 33 1-3%. These workers went out in spite of the fact that increases had been granted at their de- mand last May, with the understanding that an adjustment board would be created by agree- ment between the Master Builders and the unions to fix future wage scales without any interruption in building. They struck in spite of the fact that the Master Builders urged that they remain at work and that their demands be passed upon by the adjustment board, as provided by the tentative agreement which had been drawn up by repre- sentatives of labor employers and the public, and had been definitely ratified by the Master Builders’ Association. In their desjre for peace and uninterrupted work, the master builders even went beyond the terms of the tentative agreement and offered to make retroactive any — of wages awarded by the adjustment ard. They struck in spite of the fact that they were receiving wages considerably higher than paid in any other leading city of the United States. They struck in spite of the fact that every day of delay in the building industry meant the loss of population, business, employment and prosperity to Seattle; meant further increase of rents and decrease of income to the public at large. The position of the Master Builders’ Associa- tion in refusing to grant the increase demanded was defined by Charles W. Carkeeky president of the association, in a published statement on August 27, as follows: The Associated Industries of Seattle was organized for the purpose of “The Master Builders’ Association feels that it cannot take the responsibility of granting an increase which we do not believe is justified, and which.we are satisfied would have a disas- trous effect upon the growth of the city and would cause another sharp increase in the cost of living.” Following this declaration, the Master Build- ers made no effort to continue work on the struck jobs, hoping that negotiations would lead to the adoption of the tentative agreement by the unions, the adjustment of the demands and permanent peace and progress in the building industry. After two weeks of idleness and delay, the unions agreed to take a referendum vote on the adoption of the agreement as a basis of set- tlement of the strike. The result did not become known to the Master Builders until September 20, when they were informed that the majority vote in the unions had been against the adoption of the agreement, meaning continuation of the strike. Immediately the Master Builders decided to resume operations with any men they could se- cure. In a statement, the association said: “We can no longer remain a passive party to the paralysis of building operations at a time when Seattle is losing population by the hun- dreds because of lack of housing accommoda- tions; when sang is losing industries which would mean more employment and more pros- perity for all; when Seattle is losing business because of the need of more buildings to care for the demands of expansion which we must meet now, before the business goes elsewhere.” In an advertisement for workers the Master Builders’ Association pledged itself to maintain the present high wage scale and to stand by all union men who returned to work and protect them in any agreement which might be made thereafter with the unions. Work was resumed gradually, and the report of the association is that 85% of their jobs are now under way with full crews. Stirred by the resumption of work with union and non-union men, the Building Trades Coun- cil appointed a committee to confer with the Master Builders.: The employers again sug- gested arbitration. The union committee stated that the wage demands must be granted before they would consent to any arbitration. Within the past week the Master Builders requested that the unions hold another referen- dura on the tentative agreement which provided for arbitration under closed shop conditions. The Building Trades Council refused to order the referendum. On October 10 the Master Builders’ Associa- tion served an ultimatum on the Building Trades Council that the strikers must return to work by 10 a. m. Monday, October 18, or the association would break off all negotiations ' with the Building Trades Council. The Building Trades Council replied that it found it impossible to meet the deniand to re- turn to work principally because non-union workmen are now on many of the association jobs. At 10°a. m. Monday, October 13, the jobs controlled by the Master Builders went on the American plan of work: the employment of men without discrimination as to whether they are members of labor organizations or not. . cultivating better relations between employers and employes; of helping to secure for the workers the best possible wages and working condi- tions by mutual agreement between employers and workers; of bringing about peace, progress and production in industry for the benefit of all concerned. The Associated Industries recognizes and approves of the principle of collective bargaining both on behalf of employers and employes; it rec- ognizes the right of employes to organize; it recognizes as a solemn ob- ligation all agreements and contracts with organized labor or others, and will not condone or support their violation by either employers or employes. It stands for a square deal to the public, to the employer and to the employe. This association cannot realize its purposes, however, if it did not op- pose, with all its influence and resources, any attempt of labor unions to force their demands upon employers regardless of the rights of em- ployers and the public, such as has been attempted in the building trades strike, the job printers’ strike and the journeyman tailors’ strike, which we have investigated. We therefore declare that we shall solidly and unswervingly support any industry in Seattle that is forced, by unreasonable and impossible demands, and refusals of arbitration on the part of labor unions, to adopt the American Plan of Employment, which grants to every man the right to obtain employment either by joining the ranks of organ- ized labor or remaining outside of the same. Associated Industries of Seattle ei 3s— Ss OE EEO + SRDS BZEARSESEK STFS BSFOBSst see F>EoB