Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-07-02
80 EMPLOYEES
OF POWER co
GO ON STRIKE
Hours Notice Given Montana
Power Co. That Men Will
Not Accept Wage Cut.

Notice given Friday by electrical
workers Of the Montana Power com
pany that their craft throughout the
state would 80 on strike in an hour If
wage reductions announced two weeks
ago became effective, was reported to
have been responded to with the state
ment that all resulting vacancies
would be filled with permanent en-
ployes. A union committee called on
Manager J.. r. Hobbins at IL o'clock
in the morning and stated that all
men affected would 90 ont at noon.
Strike Starts 1t Noon
The strike went into effect at II
o'clock in Great Falls and it was re-
ported that the same action was taken
throughout the state. It is under
stood that local union meetings have
been held at all places in the state
where the company maintains forces
and that the call of the committee on
Manager Hobbins as detail of def
initely determined program.
Notice of the new scale was sent
out from the company's general offices
two weeks ago. to apply July 1, but
until the committee called on Man
ager Hobbins the company had no
notice Of the mems attitude. It was
stated that there had been no meet
ings between company and union Of
ficials and that no requests had been
received from the union for a confer
ence.
80 Men Out in Great Falls
The new scale affects linemen, met.
ermen, generating and substation op-
orators and line patrolmen. The cut
ranges from II to IA per cent. Line
men are reduced IA per cent, operat-
ors IL per cent and patrolmen Il pei
cent. Only one meterman is employed
in Great Falls. The strike took &c
men off the job in Great Falls and the
total number affected in the state is
about 100. Because of business con
ditions, the company's forces arc
greatly reduced everywhere in the
state.
Last Strike Three Years Ago
The last strike Of Montana Power
Co. employees was called in 1913, when
the men went out in sympathy witt
other striking unions. The only
grievance against the company ther
was that it was member of the AS
ISOLATED Industries. Local strikes
have been called on the company al
different times, but it was stated that
this is the first time that all men Of
one craft in the state were involved
at one time. It was reported on au
thority that in the feature Of surprise
the men had expected to WELD an eff
fective weapon.
Officials Operate Plants
Manager Hobbins stated that thu
company had no announcement 4
make, further than to say that hi
strike was a fact and that service
would be maintained without Interrupt
ton. 1t is understood that supe-in
tendents, foremen and officials vii
take over the work unless other hell
is recruited.
George Wolfe. president Of the Elec
tricians' union. stated Friday evenin,
that the union had not attempted t.
analyse the portent Of the company
statement concerning the filling of va
cancies with permanent employees, bu
that there was an apparent inclination
among the men to interpret it as
suggestion Of the open shop.
There has been no meeting toda.
at which the union could officially ex
press itself on the company's state
ment, and until such a meeting is hel,
it will be impossible to say how i
will be Interpreted said MIR. Wolfe
There seems to be talk among thu
| men that the company has made
move for the open shop. but thus ia
would say that this Interpretation
does not express the views Of TIL
union.''