Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 691]

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688

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[January 5

MATTERS PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT W1LLARD

The Executive Committee considered the following matters presented on behalf of the President of the University.

STRIKE OF STEAM FITTERS A N D PLUMBERS ON CONSTRUCTION OF ILLINI U N I O N B U I L D I N G , GREGORY HALL, AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES BUILDING All members of the Board of Trustees have already been informed that the steam fitters and plumbers employed on the Illini Union Building, Gregory Hall, and the Natural Resources Building (under construction by the State of Illinois, Department of Public W o r k s and Buildings) were ordered by a representative from the national headquarters of the United Association of journeymen Plumbers and Steam Fitters to cease work on these buildings effective January 2, 1040. While so far this strike involves only one of the crafts, it affects other contracts and its implications are far-reaching. Delays through cessation of work on these three buildings, which are P W A projects, are bound to result in additional costs to the University and to the State. They may endanger Federal grants for these buildings if they are not finished within the period stipulated in each case. So long as this strike continues the University has these alternatives: 1. Permit other contractors to proceed with their work and later have the plumbing and steam services installed, with such patching and cutting as would be necessary. 2. O r d e r the general contractors to proceed with only such work as is possible without the cooperation of the heating and plumbing contractor. Either policy will result in increased costs, the amount of which will depend on the duration of the strike. T h e second alternative seems to be the more expedient since the excess costs will be lower and the appearance of the completed buildings will be less affected. Accordingly, the Physical Plant Department has notified contractors to postpone such work as may be necessary in order to permit the heating and plumbing contractors to complete their work later. It should be noted here that the contracts offer the contractors an opportunity to obtain extensions in the completion dates in the event of strikes. T h e reasons given by representatives of the labor organization mentioned above for this strike are: 1. T h e University is installing the piping in the tunnel and distribution system, under construction as a part of the new Power Plant, itself instead of awarding a contract for this work. In this connection the following statement is offered for the record: In keeping with its practice of having all new construction work done on contract, as far as possible, the University advertised for bids for the installation of piping and accessories in the tunnel and the distribution system now under construction as a part of the new Power Plant. These bids were presented to the Board of Trustees on October 20, 1939. T h e bids ran from $76,877 to $102,770, whereas the estimate and the funds assigned for this phase of the work were $66,500. Consequently the Board rejected all bids on the ground that they were too high and the Physical Plant Department was authorized to take bids on materials. These were presented to the Executive Committee of the Board on November 1, at which time contracts for the purchase of piping and accessories were awarded and "the Physical Plant Department was authorized to proceed with the installation of pipe and bilge pumps, pursuant to the action of the Board on October 20, 1939, in view of the material saving of funds which will result therefrom and which is so essential to the completion of the Power Plant and Distribution System." (Minutes, page 650.) 2. T h e union alleges that the University is proposing to employ only its regular maintenance men on the piping installation job. 3. Notwithstanding that the University proposes to employ only union labor on this job, the union prefers to have its men work for a private contractor rather than a State agency because ( a ) contractors provide accident compensation insurance for their employees and claims are adjudicated by the Illinois