Montana labor news., 1934-10-25
DRIFTS AND RAISES
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bilities for settling complaints directly
on the job, if the committee functions
properly and the foreman meets them
in spirit of fairness and cooperation.
In order to do effective work, the
mine committee should keep certain
facts in mind. First, there are dang
ers and discomforts inherent in the oc-
cupation of mining and which can new
er be entirely eliminated. Second,
there r major issues involving wages,
hours and working conditions which
can only be settled by arbitration be-
tween the Union and the Company or
by a test of strength such as a strike
or lockout. But there are many griev-
ances in regard to working and safety
conditions, contract rates, ventilation,
etc, that the mine Committee should
attempt to settle directly with the mine
foreman.
The Company generally will be OPP
posed to any changes which will in
crease production costs. It can be
shown in many cases that the changes
asked for will not increase production
costs but will greatly improve work
ing conditions and therefore the health
and efficiency Of the miners.
The mine committees should not
waste their time and efforts on trifling
complaints that have no base. That
would surely reduce their effectiveness
in handling more important grievances.
But after considering the facts and
making sure there is real cause for
complaint they should go thru with
the matter. If no satisfactory adjust
ment can be reached with the mine
foreman, the matter should be brought
to the general grievance committee of
the Union to be carried thru the fur
Their channels provided for in the agree
ment. The general grievance commit
tee meets every Sunday at Carpenters
Hall and it is very desirable that at
least two or three men from each mine
committee attend these meetings. In
this way there can be a general ex-
change of ideas and all will be kept
in touch with conditions over the camp.
To date, a number Of complaints
have been settled between the general
committee and the Company's
Commissioner Of Labor, Mr.. McMa-
hon. If these problems are met with
common sense and tolerance from both
sides, much can be done to improve
labor relations in the mines and with
out any great sacrifice from either
side.
In the coming General Election, to be
held on November 9th, 1884, the cleo
tors are requested to pass upon two
proposed amendments to the consti-
tuition of the State OF Montana. One
those proposed amendments - the
so-called Consolidation Amendment -
contains in its phraseology, some provi-
which can be the most potenti-
ally vicious legislation that has been
attempted in this state for some time.
1t is comparable with the proposed
a~nti-picketing law, only much more eff
fective from the viewpoint Of the cor
porations.
If this proposed amendment had been
a part of the organic law of the State
the recent strike in Butte, and
the A. c. M. Co. had been able to CON
troll two Of the County Commissioners
these two, a majority Of the Board of
County Commissioners could have re-
moved the sheriff from office ION the
plea of economy and appointed one
Of themselves in his place. Or they
could have appointed any other county
office holder to the job, who might
be antagonistic to Organized Labor.
Do not be fooled by these economy
pleas on the part OF the proponents
Of this and similar laws and amend
ments. 1t behooves every man and
woman who carries a union card or
who sympathizes with Organized La
and its aims and objects to cam
paign against this proposed amend
and vote solidly against it on
election day.