Montana labor news., 1933-04-27

ployment, better understanding of
each others point of view and more
of a give-and-take rather than a fight
and lockout attitude between en-
ployers and members of organized
labor of Butte, was the gist of the
first joint meeting in years, held at
the Carpenters Union hall, Tuesday
evening. Members of the Butte
Builders Exchange and the Silver
Bow Employers Association, met
with members of the Silver Bow
Trades and Labor Council.
c. j. Nepper, contractor; Willard
Thompson, representing the Employ
ers' Association; George l. Martin,
secretary of that organization; Gar
Wood, representing the creamery in
dustry; Ray Ruhle and others spoke
in kindly vein of the desirability Of
more and better cooperation between
the employer and employee in Butte.
George /. Martin, secretary Of the
Employers Association, said that this
joint meeting, which he believed had
not been possible a few months ago,
was the result of a series of meet
ings between members of the Team
sters' Union and their employees, held
a few weeks ago. He explained that
these meetings brought the two sides
Of many questions to a better under
standing of the difficulties and prob
lens of each and led to working to-
gether for the common good.
1t was proposed, though not final
ly acted upon, that the Trades and
Labor Council appoint a special ON
mittee of twelve members, to meet
with a like committee of employers,
not so much for the direct settlement
of differences, as to bring about a
better understanding of each others
difficulties.
President Malloy stated the COM
mittee had been invited to address the
council to discuss some of the prob
lens confronting the employers and
their employees.
Mr.. C. J. Nepper, representing the
Butte Builders Exchange, stated that
the desire to attain cooperation be-
tween the employer and the various
labor organizations was the purpose
of the meeting.
Mr.. Nepper stated that the employ
ers and the labor organizations were
now at peace with each other, and
instead of following the old-time
worn custom of "In time of peace
, prepare for war;" he would have are
adage reversed and prepare for still
further peace and better understand
ling.
Mr.. George l. Martin, secretary Of
the Silver Bow Employers Associa-
ton stated the idea of cooperation
, between the unions and the employers
grew out of a series of several meet
, ings held last December between the
truck owners and the Transfers I'M
ion. These meetings, Mr.. Martin
stated, were educational both>to the
> truck owner and to the members of
the Transfers Union that participant
ed in the meetings.
Mr.. Martin suggested that cooper
alton between all the unions and all
employers be made a city-wide, or
> community program and all parties
concerned get behind the movement
, and make it successful.
In discussing the plan and the pro-
gress that had been made in the past
few months, Mr.. Martin stated that
labor and its employers have come a
long way to be able to meet On COM
mon ground and discuss each others
problems, as meetings like this one
were not considered possible a short
, time back.
Mr.. Martin stated that he had no
remedy for the situation but he did
4 believe that if a committee of IL were
!. to be appointed by the Council to
: meet regularly with a like commit
D tee of the Employers Association
, that the other fellows side of the
many questions could be seen.
: Mr.. Gar Wood discussed the Cream
cry business and stated the problems
of the employer were also the prob
! lens of labor. Mr.. Wood stated that
the city creamery business repre-
sented an investment of more than
one and one-half millions of dollars,
and that at the present time there