Montana labor news., 1935-06-13
MINERS PROUD OF
REVIVAL OF JUNE
18TH AS 7 HEIR
CELEBRATION A

has the same significance to the Butte
Miner as independence Day has to the
American people en- masse. When the
Butte Miners organized fifty-seven
years ago they signed a declaration
that they would fight to maintain the
rights and to better the conditions o
the Miners IN time to come. The Min
ers first organized in order to meet
organization with organization. The
gold, silver and copper producers, OF
rather companies, we're consolidating
with one another and large ones were
buving out the smaller ones SO that
they could form large corporations with
only one end in view-increasing their
profits. When these large companies
were established they Immediately
started the practice of getting the most
amount of labor out of the men with
the least amount OF pay possible. The
Miners felt "the back coming in on
them so they united into a Union to
better cope with the trusts that con-
tinued to grow.
AS the Companies grew larger there
was need OF larger and better organi-
cation OF Labor. As the trusts spread
to the different states it was necessary
to make the Union as far reaching as
possible. The outgrowth Of this vas
the Western Federation OF Miners.
This organization flourished and was
successful and maintained the condi-
tons and the wages until, through the
efforts of the corporations, it crumbled
from within.
Then followed a long dry spell as
far as the Unionization OF the Miners
was concerned. From 1916 to 1922 In
dependent Miners Unions tried to bet
ter the conditions but they were short
lived. The various Craft organizations
either frowned on or were not permit
ted by their lnternationals to line up
with any such Independent organiza-
tons. The result was that the Miners
were again without a Union.
Then came the good years good if
you believe that the majority OF the
wage earners should average less than
$4,000 per month"; when the com
panies making exhorbitant profits on
all Labor allowed the Miners, through
the speedup contract system, where
they pitted one Miner against the
other, to make mediocre wage for an
ex~horbitant shifts work. During these
times it was impossible to talk or
ganization to anyone-each man was to
busy trying to get a higher score on
the "Ouija Board than the shoveler
that lived next door. The result Of this
race between the men underground was
that the Boss made enough money to
purchase immense foreign properties so
that he could pit the cheap coolie labor
OF South America and Africa against
the Butte Miner who had produced the
wealth that was to buy property that
was intended for his downfall. Conse-
quently when they could mine copper
cheaper elsewhere they started a
speedup system that was unbearable.
The clouds OF depression then black
ened the skies and the companies took
advantage of this to further lower the
conditions of the Miners, who were still
u%norganized. They were working hall
time and barely existing, with condi-
tons in the mines at the lowest ebb
that they ever were.
Out of the depression clouds ther
fluttered the Presidents Blue Eagle
and the New Deal" (Since then the
Blue Eagle has become a very battered
Black and Blue Eagle and the New
Deal is nothing but a %reshuffle.) Witt
the New Deal came the privilege
OF organizing Labor, a right that they
have had since 1776. The Internationa
Union Of Mine, Mill and Smeltei
Workers, the outgrowth Of the West.
ern Federation Of Miners, took advant
age of the situation and started organ
izing. At that time there were onll
seven locals in the International ant
at this writing there are well over
hundred. With this wave OF organiza
ton going on the Butte Miners agaii
were organized.
They built up the Union while the,
were waiting in vain for the Govern
ment to frame a Copper Code tina
would better their conditions. Whei
they learned that nothing could b.
gained from this ource they tried t,
negotiate an agreement directly wit
the Company. This was refused an,
the result was a strike Of almost fiv
months. The most important gain il
the strike was the complete recognition
Of the Union. Also they gained a fifty
cent a day increase in wages and an in
crease Of working time so that the
were working the maximum code hours
Now the Miners Union is on tn
Threshold OF a New Day if they wi
but take advantage OF it. The proud
est day Of any Butte Miners life wa
when he walked down the street an
saw signs in all of the shop window
stating that they would be closed 70
Miners Union Day. Think Of it afte
being unorganized for almost twent
years the whole town stops work TO
the day to celebrate their anniversary
1t shows that the whole town and ais
the state are in accord with and re
spect the Butte Miners Union. Pol
ticians who before ignored the Butt
Mucker is now doing everything pos
sible to gain favor in the sight OF tn
Union.
Truly this Thirteenth Of June will b
a celebration of the Butte Miner
Declaration Of independence.
PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISER
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MINERS DAIRY