Montana labor news., 1935-06-13
MACHINISTS STRIKE
FOR BETTER WAGES
and WORKING HOURS
Continued from page y


an exemplary manner. Those not at
work in the fair shops report regularly
at the Labor Temple for assignment OF
picket duties, or for other work in con-
nection with the strike and everything
moves along tremendously and
smoothly.
A mass-meeting Of organized labor
was held on Friday evening at which
definite and enthusiastic assurance was
given the strikers that Missoula labor is
with them to win.
In the meantime an unfavorable
news item was broadcast over the local
radio station which would give the i'm
preston that the strike had been in
stigated by outside ~agitators. This
falsehood was quickly nipped in the
budd, while is was still hot. The state
ment was given out, at the time, OF a
well known program sponsored by the
Texaco Co. and would leave the i'm
preston that the Texaco Co. were the
authors OF the news item. The man
agement OF the Texaco Co. quickly Sc
cured a written statement from the
management Of the B~roadcasting Sta
ton to the effect that the news item
was unauthorized and for which re-
| sponsibility and blame rested entirely
on the Broadcasting Station.
Texas Company Exonerated.
This statement was read at the mass
meeting, thus generating the local
management OF the Texaco Co., who
are good friends OF labor.
AT the mass meeting a committee of
ten men were appointed to wait upon
the manager of the Broadcasting Sta
ton demanding Of him an explanation
of his attitude towards organized labor.
Ii materialized that there was evil
IDENTIFY no wrong intent or malice to-
wards organized labor but merely
somewhat lax methods in checking
news items permitted to go out over
the air. To make amends a promise
was made that in the future all news
items pertaining to labor will be veri-
fled at the office of the Central Coun-
Gil before permitted to be broadcast and
that a statement of fact pertaining to the
present strike would be broadcast the
next day. This statement to be Sc
cured from the secretary of the Cen
trial Trades and Labor Council. The
promise was fulfilled by broadcasting
the following Statement of Fact
relative TO the organization of Auto
mobile Mechanics Union No. 1434 Of
Missoula, Mont. This organization
had its origin by reason Of the fact
that several complaints came in to the
NRA compliance board from me-
chanics working in automobile repair
shops as to the small earnings and
many hours that had to be put in to
earn the low wages.
While some adjustments were per-
fected through the effort of the COM
pliance board, nevertheless it was APP
parent that an organization was very
necessary to place the industry and
working conditions on a stabilized and
respectable basis.
international Officers Lend Aid.
1t was through the assistance of a
couple of members of this compliance
board that the mechanics were congre-
gated at a meeting to ascertain what
procedure to follow to secure such an
organization. The Railway Machinists
were being organized at that time and
contact was made with the representa-
tive OF the International Association OF
Machinists, who was here at the time
to secure a charter. The charter for
the Railway Machinists was granted on
May 9th, 1884 and that of the Automo-
bile Mechanics on May oath, 1884.
M~achinists Belong to Central Council
All this time the counsel and support
of the Missoula County Central Trades
and Labor Council had been asked fol-
and freely given. The Auto Me
chanics' Union has been affiliated with
the Central Council from the very be-
ginning and all matters of importance
such as proposed agreement, bylaws
etc, have been submitted to the Cen
trail Council for consideration and APP
proval.
q a q q q q