Paint Bosses Claim Union Rejects Accord

More than 250 members of the Brotherhood of Painters, Paper-Hangers and Decorators will return to work Monday morning as result of an agreement reached between the brotherhood and the New York chapter of the International Painters Association Friday morning. The agreement provides for a $9, seven-hour day.

The deadlock between the brotherhood and the Association of Master Painters and Decorators of the City of New York remained unbroken as both factions stuck firmly to their guns. Officials of the brotherhood insisted that the union would refuse to dicker with the masters association cooperatively. Henry D. Moeller, secretary of the employers’ organization, placed responsibility for the deadlock squarely upon the union leaders.

“The union,” he declared in a statement, “has flatly turned down the suggestion of arbitration, a long-recognized and individually-accepted policy of settling disputes. The responsibility for the continued uncertainty in the industry, inconvenience to the public and disturbance to the real estate interests, and among the property owners, must now, therefore, rest squarely upon their shoulders.

“We have been paying $8 for an eight-hour day. We have indicated a willingness to consider, at the suggestion of Mr. Golden, a scale of $9 for an eight-hour day. The employees demand $9 for a seven hour day. We have indicated a willingness to submit the whole question of hours and wages to arbitration. All of these proposals for amicable settlement of the controversy have been rejected by the union leaders. The public may now draw its own conclusion as to place the blame henceforth for the present condition in the industry belongs.”