Montana labor news., 1935-10-24
American Federation of
Labor Takes Notice
OF Fort Peck
James Graham, President of Mon
tana Federation of Labor, In
PRODUCES Resolution to Conven-
ton in Atlantic City.
Chiseling Practices of Contrac-
tors Brought to the Attention
of National Body.
FORT PECK PROJECT
MONTANA

NUN NlANA
Resolution No. 178-By Delegate
James D. Graham, Montana State Fed
Grafton OF Labor.
WHEREAS, There is a Federal Dam
Project under construction at Fort
Peck, in the State of Montana. and
which said construction has been in
progress for about two years and will
possibly continue for a period of thre
years, and,
WHEREAS, A very unsatisfacto
state of affairs has existed at Fer;
Peck Dam project and from the lat
est reports still exists
WHEREAS, The Building Trades
Code, which regulates the wages and
working conditions at Fort Peck provi-
des for minimum wage of fifty (50)
cents an hour for common labor (pick
and shovel work., and a minimum Of
$l.20 an hour for mechanics. There is
no scale of wages set by the code for
helpers and semi-skilled workers; this
wage is to be set in each locality ac-
cording to existing local conditions,
rules and usages
WHEREAS, The wages for helpers
and semi-skilled workers at Fort Peck
has been agreed upon by the army en-
gineering officers and the contractors,
and, apparently after the contract has
been awarded. It is a graduated scale
.ot wages running from fifty $50 cents
TO ninety (9O) cents an hour.
WHEREAS, the contractors, with
the consent and knowledge of the con-
tracing officers in charge of the Fort
Peck project, are using semi-skilled
workers at semi-skilled workers wages
10 do the work of skilled workers. Nee
hanics are hired to do the work of
mechanics at wages below the scale Of
|Sl2O an hour fixed by the contract.
Mechanics being paid $l20 an hour.
y contractors are discharged, and when
SO discharged are informed by repres-
entatives Of the contractors that if they
wish to work as helpers at eighty (80)
cents an hour, they can go back on the
job again This can be substantated
by affidavits.
WHEREAS, Some Of the contractors
have secured 80 per cent Of the skilled
work for wage OF 80 cents an hour
and less. In other words, some OF the
contractors have underpaid 80 per cent
OF their skilled workers from 40 to 90
cents an hour All this with the con-
sent Of the contracting officers. It is
estimated that the contractors have
chiseled from $4,000 to 100000 a week
from the pay envelopes of the work
ers.
WHEREAS, These violations and ir-
regularities have been on several oc-
casions called to the attention Of the
Army Officers in charge Of construc-
ton al Fort Peck, and numerous COM
plants have been made to the Public
Works Administration and the Depart
ment OF Labor at Washington, D. c.,
and
WHEREAS, On July % and "a the
Board Of Labor Review held hearing
at Fort Peck The above complaints
submitted to the Board supported by
witnesses and affidavits. One of the Of
fcers attached to the army engineers
office at Fort Peck acted at the hear
ing in such a manner as would indicate
that he was the attorney for the con
tractors. He showed no sympathy for
the workers and defended the contrac-
tors in every way possible. The whole
affair ended with complete whitewash
OF the army engineers and contractors.
WHEREAS, A further continuation
Of the aforementioned law violations,
abuses and unjust practices with i'm
munity from prosecution for the pre-
peration thereof will destroy public
regard for the Federal Administration
will tend to demoralize good citizen
ship and destroy loyalty and fidelity to
the very Government itself and
WHEREAS, This being Federal
Government Project on a Federal Gov
ernment Reserve under direct control
Of United States Army,
THEREFORE,, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Fifty-fifth Annual Convention
Of American Federation OF Labor 20
on record requesting that a Congress
ional Investigation of the Fort Peck
Dorject, the official conduct Of the Of
ficers in charge, the unjust practices
Of contractors with relation TO their
laxity if any with reference
TO safety for employees, the housing
and sanitary conditions in connection
with the project, be instigated to the
end that parties guilty Of misconduct
may be dealt with according to laws
governing in the matter and that the
unjust practices may be discontinued
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED.
that the Executive Council Of the Am
srican Federation Of Labor, be instruct
ed to use all power possible to have
an organization campaign started and
the workers on said project.
and the situation at Fort Peck Dam
remeded and adjusted to the American
standard Of living, and the officers and
executive board of the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor render such assistance
as is within their power to procure such
congressional investigation.