Montana labor news., 1936-01-16
Wages In Montana
Miserably Small
Continued from Page l.

iCOntlnued from rage -
appears Mr.. O'Byrne's talk to that
committee Of merchants had been no.
titled by the County Attorney Of Cas-
cade that the eight-hour law was in
operative. Commissioners O'Byrne said
that he and Colwell went to visit some
OF the merchants and they assured him
that the County Attorney had made
such a statement and that in the event
the employees were worked overtime,
no harm would result. O'Bryne in
formed the merchants that in the event
Of violation OF the eight-hour law in
that county, that he would file the COM
plant himself and that if the County
Attorney OF Cascade County would
not prosecute these cases that he would
ask the Attorney General TO do so,
The Commissioner stated that he had
received many an opinion from the At
torney General clarifying the eight
hour store law but it seems that each
separate case must have a separate
opinion before the complaint is filed.
Two things must be borne in mind
according to the labor official, and
these are the absolute need OF organi-
cation and cooperation Of the various
towns OF Montana. The men and wo-
men OF Butte would be surprised il
they knew some OF the terrible condi-
tons existing in surrounding towns
stated Mr.. O'Bryne. Many girls and
women working in restaurants and no.
tells and other places receive less than
half the wages paid in Silver Bow
County.
Bozeman is an outstanding example
OF this exploitation. In some instances
in that town, men are now working
every day in stores for $500 and $540C
a month. The commissioner said he
couldn't see how it was possible tc
maintain local Butte conditions wher
all around employers were breaking
down wages because of no labor or
CARNATIONS. These u|norganized group;
are a menace to conditions as they ex.
ist in Butte.
In continuing, the COMMISSIONS
stated, q have warned all the Contra
Labor Councils that these unorganizeC
groups are tearing down the structure
that has taken years for organized la.
Dor to build. Even conditions OF th'
building crafts are in danger. For in.
stance, regarding carpenters at For
Peck many were sent from Butte anC
other organized towns and at frs.
these men were paid $40 per hour, tn,
regular carpenters scale; after having
worked a few weeks they were fired
then re-hired as helpers at 20 cents
and Is cents per hour, the wages paiC
those who knew little or nothing abou
carpenter work, A notorious ex.
ample of low wages are those paid a
Fort Benton. Here men are employed
for ten or eleven hours for $3.50 Oh
$500 a day. In Chinook, forty-fivt
miles from Great Falls, an addition wa
built to the sugar factory with tn,
same miserable conditions OF labor anC
wages. The Addison Miller Contract.
ing Company of Great Falls, who are
now operating at Fort Peck and other
places, and who have a contract tc
furnish the labor for the Northern Pa
cific coal docks OF Montana go to the
extreme lengths in exploiting the mer
employed by them. This company VIC
lates the eight-hour day and work theil
men from eight and one-half to twenty
four hours a day for the %princely wage
of $4,000 a month.
1t must be stated that Bozeman, Liv-
ingston and Billings are among the
worst cities Of the state in regard tC
wages and conditions Of labor.
Mr.. O'Bryne stated that it should be
the duty of the Trades and Labor
Council Of Butte to use its efforts tC
see that these people are organized, i
only to protect the wages and working
conditions of Silver Bow County.