Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-31
STRIKE OVER,
IS POSITION
OF G. N. ROAD
Official Says Dealings Ended
With Old Shopmen; Men
Ask to Return.

ssrhe Great Northern has put a pc
Rod after the word strike and there is
no such thing to be considered any
more. The road will have no dealings
or negotiations with the former unions
or their executives This statement
comes from J. A. Cochran, assistant to
Vice President C. o. jerks Of the Great
Northern, and the official who mas
charge Of all labor questions over the
system. Cochran was In Great rams
Monday, leaving Monday night Tor
Whitefish. He is engaged in a routine
insnection of the system, having worked
west of st. Paul. He spent the most
of Monday in an inspection OF the
west side shops with superintendent
r. f. Dixon Of the Butte DIVISION.
Cochran's statement regarding the
relations between the Great Northern
and the former shcpcraft employees CO.
Vice President jerks, setting October l
as the last date on which any consid-
Grafton would be given former employees
who had walked out on July l. inns
statement is in direct contrast to the
oninion OF the local union men who
walked out. They feel there is still
n chance that the road will treat with
their organization.
Motive Power in Good Repair
Although not aware that local strik-
ers' officials allege the motive power
of the Great Northern to be in bad
shape, Cochran spoke enthusiastically
of the fine condition of motive power
all along the line. He was surprised
that the system could recover so thor
oughly from the recent d~isorganized
condition of machinery which was in
evitabIe following the walkout. He
also stated that the car repair forces
were everywhere working at top eff
cheney.
Regarding the statement of the local
strikers that the Great Northern would
be expected to treat with the former
shopmen as a result of the Soo's recent
settlement. a telegram received at the
Butte division offices from Vice Presi-
dent c. 0. jerks would indicate that
this settlement was not made with the
old unions. According to this tele-
gram, which was in the nature of a bull
Ietin, the situation is outlined as fol-
lows:
General Manager Wallace met eight
of our old shopmen who have been in
the service a number of years and who
admitted that the strike was lost. They
asked II we WOuld take DacK Sucn men
as we had room for. They were told
that we had on the entire system about
1000 vacancies and that we would be
glad to take back any men that had not
committed any acts Of violence or in
timidation. The men said that they
would be glad to do this and were told
That they must not come near the shops
until they were called for duty.
ut is the intention, about the middle
of the week, to call back from 3 to 10
of the men and see how they act be-
fore taking on any more, and it will
probably be two or three weeks before
the 1000 vacancies are filled. 1t has
been decided that, in fairness to the
men, and so as not to create any fur
ther bad feeling, that our mechanical
heads would call them back in order of
their age in service. At no time has
there been any negotiations with the
shop crafts or their representatives"
Outlook Is Good
Cochran was enthusiastic in his be-
lief that Montana is just going through
q purging process and that>the state is