The Daily Worker

PAINTERS REJECT THE COMPROMISE OFFER OF BOSSES
Workers Strike to Win Union Demands
ST. LOUIS, Mo., May 9.-At a meeting of painters and paperhangers attended by 2,900 members of the union, the compromise proposal of the Master Painters' Association which offered an increase of 20 cents a day was rejected by all except two.

Refuse to Grant Increase.
Negotiations between the union and the master painters have been going on for over three months. The master painters continually refused to grant any increase. Last week they offered an increase of 10 cents. When this was rejected, the Master Painters' Association offered an increase of 20 cents a day.
The Building Trades Council, which has been in a chaotic condition for some time, has been reorganized. The painters are in the council. It is expected that the council will call out the other trades where the bosses try to put on scab painters.
The Master Painters' Association is affiliated with the Associated Building Industries of St. Louis. This bosses organization has fought every increase in wages in the local building trades.
It is stated that the Master Painters were willing to grant the demands of the workers but that they are held back by the building interests' association which is seeking to defeat the painters so as to weaken the spirit of the other building trades unions and thus avoid other wage increase demands. They fear that if the painters win their demands that it will encourage the other building trades unions to demand wage increases.

Independents Sign Union Demands.
The Master Painters' Association employs a little less than half the union painters in the city. The association is composed of a few large contractors. The other half of the painters are employed by independent contractors. About 90 per cent of these have signed the new agreement giving the painters $1.10 an hour. Permits have been given the painters working for these independent contractors that have signed up with the union allowing them to go to work today.