Montana labor news., 1935-09-19
MINERS AND SMELTERMEN IN JOINT CONFER
ENCE; NEGOTIATIONS NOW In PROGRESS
FOR new AGREEMENT

The Butte Miners Union No. / and
the Anaconda Mill and Smeltermen's
Union have been negotiating with the
Anaconda Copper Mining Company in
respect TO a new agreement. Several
meetings have already been held, the
first one on September 4. This was
followed by others on September II
and II and September 10 and II. The
Butte Miners Union is being repre-
scented by Reid Robinson, president Of
the union; Mike Organ, vice presi-
dent; Dennis Mccarthy, financial sec
rotary; Tom Kennedy, William Mason,
Walter Smith, James Dwyer and Don
aid Munday. The Mill and Smleter-
mems Union Of Anaconda is being rep
resented by President John Ehnmons,
Vice President Herbert LeJeune, Re-
cording Secretary Tom Murray and
n. Mcclure. In recent sessions Will
liam DAILY, Dan Kelly, James Carrigan,
William McMann, A. E. Virgins, L. V.
Bender and c. A. Lennon, have been
representing the company. Mr.. J. r.
Hobbins was present at the first meet
ing of September 4, but has not been in
attendance at the recent sessions.
At the termination of the strike last
summer an agreement was entered into
between the unions and the company
on September 20, to continue for one
year unless notice Of change were given
by either party. The contract re-
quired that ninety days be allowed on
this notice. The Miners Unacn, in
connection with the Mill and Shelter
men of Anaconda, gave the Anaconda
Company the required ninety days no
tice of a desire to change the contract.
Several factors influenced the men in
asking for this alteration. One OF
them being the extreme increase in the
cost Of living since last year. The in
crease in commodity prices has reached
such a stage that it is now impossible,
not only for the miners and smelter
men, but for other classes Of workers
to live on the income which they have
been receiving, not to mention the slow
starvation which accompanies the
budget wages of the government. The
nine months trial which was accorded
the agreement entered into by the
unions and the company has proved
very unsatisfactory. The Miners
Union has discussed all of the phases Of
the agreement in their recent meetings
and have thoroughly considered the
new demands which have been pre-
scented to the company, The same is
true OF the Anaconda Mill and Smell
termen. The local Miners Union had
a special meeting for this very purpose
at the Broadway Theatre last Sunday.
Sunday the Mill and Smeltermen OF
Anaconda also held a special meeting in
their own hall in Anaconda. The joint
committee was instructed to present to
the company the changes desired by the
rank and file of both organizations.
Owing to the fact that the conference
committee will be returned to the or
%ganization with a very important re-
port, there is no question but that this
report will necessitate a referendum
vote. The Conference Committee can
function for their union but are not in
Ipower to regulate or to settle any con-
ditions whereby the great mass Of labor
is affected. Naturally all conferences
with companies must ONE back to the
organization for sanction or rejection,
therefore the voice OF the membership
OF an organization is the deciding fac
tor in settling all issues concerning the
union. Hence the Miners Union will
no doubt in the near future be called
upon by a vote Of its entire member
ship to decide a future policy in nego-
%tiations with the company.