Montana labor news., 1934-05-10

Reports from the locals of the Inter
national Union of Mine, Mill & Smell
ter Workers, including Engineers,
Miners, Electricians, Machinists and
other crafts indicate that the strike
called by these organizations is 100
per cent effective. Especially graft
flying were the returns presented by
the picket committees. In all in
stances it was shown that no men at
tempted to go to work. This is proof
of the solidarity behind the strike
movement.
aA#
There is no mining being done at the
present time in Butte. At a few of
the mines there are men employed as
engineers and pumpnen, but it is al
legged that these men are largely with
out experience. Under such condi-
tions, labor headquarters warn
against men risking their lives in try
ing to perform any work around the
mining properties. These men, re-
ferred to as engineers and pumpmen
are not bonifide members of the l. u.
of M. M. g. S. w. unions.
&**
A prominent member of the Engin-
GERS union stated that men are being
given licenses by the State of Mon
tana to run engines and pumps, who
are not qualified, by experience, to run
these machines.
All units of the International union
of Mine, Mill & Smelter Workers, and
all other unions engaged in this strug-
gle for a living wage and better work
ing conditions, appeal to all members
of organized labor, all farm organiza-
tions, and all other individuals, firms,
farmers and other bodies friendly to
labor to make known to the people in
their respective communities Of the
conditions prevailing in Butte. They
also ask their cooperation in refrain
ing from accepting propaganda put
out by corporation publicity mediums,
designed to discountenance and dis
parge the union efforts. 1t is also re-
quested that any efforts that may be
made by corporation agents to secure
strike breakers in the various locali-
ties in the state be prevented if pos
sible.
Following is a quotation from the
Montana Standard, of the morning of
May 9th; and below is a letter from
Mr.. j. R. Hobbins in reply to a COM
munication from the joint conference.
In this communication from the
Joint conference was the agreement re-
ferred to in Mr.. Hobbins' letter and
in which was included the proposed
schedule Of wage and working condi-
tions. This agreement was presented
to the officers of the Anaconda COM
pany by the joint conference commit
tee, on or about April 10, 1884. The
letter from Mr.. Hobbins clearly shows
that Che company was notified, in am
pile time and that they refused UNI
conditionally to enter into negotia-
tions. Nearly a month elapsed be-
tween the time the demands were
presented and the time when the
strike took place:
"The strike was a summary action
taken by the miners and engineers
unions without comforting with the
Anaconda company and put into eff
feet without notice to it. 1t was voted
Immediately after demands for in
~creases in wages ranging from 200 to
$50 per cent of present rates of pay
had been served upon the company's
management and without awaiting
reply to those demands. Further de-
mands of the miners union were fol
the establishment of a six-hour day
and a 30-hour week together with
other changes in working conditions
which, it is estimated, might increase
the cost of operations in Butte a.
much as or more than the increases
demanded in the wage scales.