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Purging the painters and decorators union of its Communist element and thereby solidifying its ranks, the Brotherhood of Painters, Paper-hangers and Decorators District Council No. 9 yesterday revoked the charter of Local 499, with the full approval of the International Brotherhood, for its alleged Communist activities, it was revealed at union headquarters yesterday.
The revocation came on the heels of a telegram sent to A. Deutsch. president of Local 499, by L. P. Lindelof, of national headquarters, demanding that Local 499 comply with orders and instructions of District Council No. 9. This the Local failed to do and the council took action to oust the recalcitrant local.
Local 499, according to union officials, organized a strike committee of its own and announced it would not negotiate with employers. This action proved to be a thorn in the union’s side and delayed negotiation for a settlement of the strike between the Brotherhood and the Association of Master Painters and Decorators.
EXPLAINS UNION STAND
Phillip Zausner, secretary of District Council No. 9, declared with regard to the revocation: “It is none too happy an occurrence in any brotherhood to be forced to revoke the charter of an entire local. In this case, however, it was an operation absolutely necessary and vital to the future life of the union. The Communists were never interested in union matters as such. Their entire activity of the last twelve months ran along the lines of disrupting the morale of the union so as to gain control for the Communist Party. We tolerated them as long as their activities were confined internally but by their actions in this strike the Communists have overstepped the first and most sacred principle of the union.”
Approximately five hundred painters and decorators were in the local. Union spokesmen intimated that about forty per cent of them are Communists and would be banned from the brotherhood. The other sixty per cent will be distributed among the twelve locals in the city.
MEN TO GIVE DEMANDS TODAY
Representatives of the Brotherhood and the Association of Master Painters and Decorators will confer today in the office of Ben Golden, executive secretary of the Regional Labor Board, and will present their respective demands. Union spokesmen refused to comment on today’s meeting, but intimated that they anticipate victory this week.
An official of the Association of Employers announced yesterday that “we are going ahead with our work.” He declared that the Association will give union men an opportunity to go back to work but if they refuse the Association will employ other men.
Union men made light of this statement and stated that the pickets around Association jobs will be multiplied. Meanwhile union men continued preparations for their demonstration in all parts of the city today. The demonstration will start shortly after noon with the painters marching around the twelve local union offices.
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