Montana labor news., 1934-04-19

iAdo OtSiA AA~A& W ~ @t1NN~N
of the Miners Union for an increase
in pay and a shortened work week.
The Anaconda Company would make
light of the requests in the press but
the situation is more serious than
would appear on the outer surface.
What are the miners asking? They
are asking very little when n con-
siders wage scales being paid in Butte
at the present day. A miner in Butte
today makes SO cents an hour. That
is seven cents below the scale paid on
the CWA projects. These workers,
without near the risk and working a
longer work month were paid a mini
mum of so cents an hour. The CWA
figured that to be a fair minimum
wage for Butte. According to the
CWA standards the miners of Butte
are making far less than the govern
ment considers a decent living wage.
mattresses in Butte receive 30 cents
an hour. The union scale calls for
As cents but most employers felt that
that was too little under the NRA and
paid their mattresses so cents. A
miner at the risk of his life and health
is today in Butte making only 3 cents
an hour more than a janitress.
On the Fort Peck project the United
States Government has set a scale Of
$1.20 per hour for miners and tun-
nelers. This is the scale that the
miners are asking for like work in
Butte. AT present they are receiving
less than half the government scale
and are only asking what Uncle Sam
considers a fair scale on his PWA
projects.
This may seem like a small differ
ence but one must consider that a
miner works only part time. The
average monthly pay of the miner in
Butte, today, is only S63.36. His pay
is the lowest in history and each day
the things he must buy increase in
price. Unless the miner in Butte re-
ceives a higher wage it means a slow
starvation for him and his family,
In this struggle he is merely asking
the right to earn a living and is not
making any outrageous demands.
Terms of Agreement.
In order that the public might
know what the employees of the A
C. M. Co. are asking, we publish the
agreement they wish the company tc
sign:
Agreement.
This agreement, made and entered
into this...~...........day of...-.......... BY
and between the Anaconda Copper
Mining Company together with any
subordinate company directly under
it's control and operating within the
jurisdiction of the locals here-in-aftel
designated, they to be known as thu
Company" and the party of the frs
part and the Unions hereinafter des
ignated as the parties of the SECOND
part.
WITNESSETH: First that for an
in consideration of harmonious rela
tons mutually beneficial and the GOV
enants and agreements here-in-afte
contained, the parties hereto do here
by enter into, establish and agree t.
the following wage schedule and con
ditions Of employment for a period o
twelve months commencing on tn
day of....-........, until terminal
ed by sixty days notice in writinl
from either of the parties subscrib
ing hereto to the other, upon whic
the same may be amended, cancelle
or substituted as may be mutual
agreed upon by the parties subscrih
ing hereto.
Second: 1t is hereby agreed an
understood that the parties Of tn
second part in the employ of tn
Company are to receive the follow
ing wage conditions and terms of EN-
ployment.
Third: The party of the first pal
agrees that no man shall be require
to work alone underground.
No mechanic shall be required t
perform duties underground or hai
ardous places, unless accompanied b
another journeyman or a qualifie
helper.
Fourth: When employees are Gale
out for work between the reguls
shifts they shall receive time and on
half for said service, and the minimum
amount paid for such service sha
be not less than four hours at straigl
time. Fifty (50c) cents per shift e,
ira will be allowed all crafts fC
work actually performed in the sha.
only, and not for any other undel
ground work.
Fifth: The party of the first pal
agrees that six continuous hours sha
constitute a days work and five col
tinuous days shall constitute a week
work.
Sixth: The party Of the first pa
agrees that the following weekly waf
rates shall prevail and that no bonl