Montana labor news., 1936-10-15

lin ~
gone on record supporting the pro-
posed eight-hour amendment to the
Constitution. The Miners union has
gone on record supporting the same
amendment.
Senator Murray expressed his ap-
probation to the Trades and Labor
Council for the endorsement ten
dered him by that organization.
Senator Wheeler has promised to
try to get a reclassification of Sill
yer Bow County in respect to wag-
es on w. P. A. projects. The Trad
es and Labor Council is asking that
Silver Bow County be put in a class
above that of $4,000. Should they
be successful it will mean that the
workers on these projects will gel
about an additional 10 per cent in
crease in pay. This must not be con-
fused with the 10 per cent increase
which was given by the W. P. A
itself some TIM ieoga.
itself some time ago.
The Rotana Club was given $500
to help them in their program Of
providing free milk for distribution
to school children.
The Trades and Labor Council
thought that it was a very worthy
undertaking.
The State Federation of Labor
whose office is in Helena, Montana
and whose president is James Ora
ham seems not to be very much II
favor of a suggestion that has beer
made in some circles to have a spec
ial session of the Legislature con
vene just prior to January LIST, ii
order to pass a Montana Unemploy'
ment Law SO that the state will no
lose its share of federal funds.
Graham in a letter to the Trade!
and Labor Council explained tha'
some of the members of the house
have resigned and died and also the
same thing applied to the Senate anc
for other reasons the Labor Execu.
tive expressed doubt that any sucf
unemployment measure would bt
passed. He promised, however, tina
the Federation itself was drawing uI
a model unemployment measure tina
will be presented at the next session
Of the Legislature.
w. j. Thomas, at present connect
ed with the Works Progress Admin
istration at Helena is seeking the
position of principal administrative
officer with the Social Security
Board and asked the assistance o.
the Trades and Labor Council ii
securing the position. According
to Mr.. Thomas the position comes
under the Civil Service Commission
The communication was referred
to the Legislative Committee anc
probably will be reported on at the
next meeting.
A letter from the Brotherhood Of
Railway and Steamship Clerks wa!
received in reference to the Rail
way Commission and the granting
of a permit by the Railway Commits
sion to the Inter- Mountain Trans
portation Company from Great Fall
to Bainville.
The Railroad men feel, according
to the letter, that this permit shoult
not have been granted. However
Secretary Harry Grimes explaineC
that the Trades and Labor Council
had asked the Commission to gran
this permit owing to the fact tina
the Inter- Mountain Transportation
Company were employing uniol
teamsters and paying union wages
1t is to be regretted that the Rail
road men isolate themselves from
the activities of the unions and re
fuse to come into the Trades ant
Labor Council. Many requests hav
been made of the different railroa'
organizations to affiliate themselve
with the Central Labor body blu
they hold themselves aloof and whel
something comes up detrimental t
their interests they complain. ]
they had their representatives in thi
body, complaints could be taken car
of from the floor. Another thin
is that Railroad Brotherhoods an
other railroad organizations only as
sociate themselves with the trade un
ion movement at the time that the.
want to put over some political can
didate, then they ask the help 0
of the trade unions. The railwa.
clerks and other railway union
should Immediately affiliate with tn
Silver Bow Trades and Labor Coun
Gil.
Elmer Shea, democratic candida
tie for clerk of the court expresse
his appreciation to the Legislativ
Committee and to the Trades Cour
Gil through one of the other dele