Montana labor news., 1934-12-13
BILLINGS FACTORY
WORKERS OUT
CONTINUED from page y

k(OitlHuSu nun PesS
the company and the union, established
the jurisdiction OF the union over the
campaign force. This committee con-
sisted of Frank c. Cline, president and
manager of the Billings Laundry COM
pany, appointed by the sugar officials.
and Roy Stewart, county auditor, ap-
pointed by the union.
These two men, it was announced
took the company pay roll and check
ed it against the unions listed mem
bership.
Both company and union officials
agreed that the union membership was
approximately 80 per cent of the en-
tire factory staff, the company adding
that the other 20 per cent, permanent
employees, would not go out and I'M
ion officials asserting that their lists
contained many permanent employees
besides virtually all Of the temporary
campaign workers.
Company officials estimated that the
pay demands of the workers would
mean approximately a 80 per cent in
crease all the way around. They added
that that would affect workers draw
ing an hourly rate of from 32H cents
per hour to about Is cents per hour
with the bulk of the workers in be-
tween. Officials said they have very
few workers employed at the code
minimum, most OF them getting more
in the face Of the uncertain con
dition Of the beet sugar industry, We
could not agree to the demands" the
company statement read.
Union spokesman, on the other hand
declared that previously this week the
company had agreed to the pay increas-
es but would not agree to the CLOSED
shop demand.
The demand was signed by George
L. Anderson, president OF the union
and James O.. Cox, secretary, and was
presented to the company through q
collective bargaining committee COM
posed of Frank J.. Holman, chairman
R. J. Monaghan and Swede Helterbran
This committe was selected from the
executive board Of the Yellowstone
Trades and Labor association.
The demand, in full, read.
ut is resolved by the Federal Labor
union No. 1874 of Billings, Mont.
that the following request be granted
by the Great Western Sugar Company
of Billings:
81. That we demand a raise of II
cents per hour for all hourly men EN-
ployed by the said Great Western Sugar
company, located at Billings, Mont.
~. Also, we demand 10 cents pei
hour back pay for all hourly men EN-
ployed at said Great Western Sugar
company OF Billings, Mont, to date
from the start OF the sugar processing
campaign.
%. Said back pay to be paid by
December IA, 1884.
a. We also demand that the Great
Western Sugar company located al
Billings, Mont, employ only members
in good standing Of this local No
1874"
At least Is per cent of the beet crop
remains in the dumps, mostly at the
factory but some on the Huntley pro-
ject, it was estimated Friday night
The company had expected to finish
its run shortly before January l..
Active in negotiations here this week
was M. Kerr Beadle of Butte, deputy
appointed by the regional director OF
the federal labor relations board, noun
tain states district. Mr.. Beadle, it was
announced, pointed out the way in
which demands should be made,
From the time the demand was pre-
scented and refused, a large gathering
Of sugar company employees met al
headquarters in the basement of the
Babcock building. The workers met
in high spirits, and passed a number Of
resolutions, one of which wa to the
effect that this is a lockout, not a
strike" They argued that, inasmuch
as the company was refusing the de-
mands, the refusal amounted to a lock-
out. Those meeting earlier in the even
ing were composed mostly Of day shift
and graveyard" shift midnight to
8 in the morning - workers.
At midnight, those at union head
quarters were joined by members of
the evening shift who had just come
off work.
At the factory, the whistle was blown
as usual at midnight. Shortly after
wards, two short blasts were sounded,
signalling that the factory was closed.
The strikers showed little bitterness
but dead seriousness, even with the
good humor they exhibited when the
evening shift came off at midnight and
the graveyard shift refused to go on.