Montana labor news., 1936-06-25
Transfers 0rganiza-
ton Making Progress
Throughout the State

BlLLINGS-The Transfers and
Truck Drivers OF the state wish TO
take this means of expressing their
appreciation and thanks to the Yellow
stone Trades Council and the local
Teamsers' and Truck Drivers Union
No. 100 for their wonderful enter
tainment and hospitality June 22nd.
The Transfers delegates at their con-
v~ention were represented by Max
Weber, state chairman Of the cam
sters; Pete Corners from Butte, Henry
LaFebre, Austin Thompson from
Great Falls, Pete Baron from Mis-
soula, f. G. Smiley from Bozeman,
R. ]. Cormier, president Of Local No.
100 and James o. Cox Business Agent
from Billings, Montana.
The greater part Of the day was
taken up discussing matters Of vital
Importance to the teamsters through
out the state. The main effort Of our
organization in the past few months
has been spent in Billings and vicin-
ity. In discussing the question Of a
Transfers union in Miles City with
Brother Lambert, thu situation looks
very encouraging. Brother Lambert
promised the teamsters that he would
cooperate with us in starting a local
there. Lewistown was also mentioned
as a field ripe for a Transfers local.
We greatly appreciate the help that
we have received from the Havre
Central body in taking the lead in
organizing the teamsters there. 1t is
very encouraging TO II state or
ganization when you know that the
urge to organize is on and the men
are ready and willing to help them
selves.
The fact remains that where men
and women are calling for help, they
must be ready and willing to help
themselves. The teamsters are doing
everything within their power to or
ganize the unorganized in this state
and solicit the active and moral sup
port OF organized labor in our efforts.
Brother Halter, Legislative repre-
resentative for the railroad employees
in Havre appeared before our COM
mittee relative to the granting OF new
bus franchises in the northern part of
the state. The railroad employees are
protesting these applications for bus
franchises on the ground that it would
throw 80 or IS railroad men out of
employment through the cancellation
of some of the G. N. train service in
that section OF Montana. There are
a lot OF things in the transportation
game that the teamsters and railroad
employees have in common In some
sections Of our state the truck and
bus service has been a blessing to the
citizens of Montana, but on the other
hand, where railroad service is ade-
quate for the present, we feel that the
members of the Montana Railroad
Commission should take in c~onsidera-
ton the fact that the railroads employ
union men as well as two Of the three
bus companies that are making appli-
cations for a franchise and to make
their decision on the merits and ne
cessity and convenience, but to give
absolutely no consideration to bus or
trucking companies hat do not en-
ploy union drivers.
We are happy to report that the
Inter- Mountain Bus Lines are now or
ganized 100 per cent throughout this
state, in fact over their entire system
which extends into Idaho. The Great
Falls Coach Lines have been organized
100 per cent for quite some time. We
have had favorable reports on the
Washington Motor Coach Company
but at this time we haven't a definite
report to make in favor IF this com
pany. We hope to be able to report
100 per cent organization in the near
future. The Grey Hound Lines are
still on the rat list. The Transfers
delegates agreed to start in earnest on
the Grey Hound within a few days.
Brother Pete Corners, Business
Agent for No. 2, who is also secretary
for our state committee failed to show
up in time for our business session so
Brother James 0. Cox, Business Agent
for Local No. 100 at Billings acted as
secretary for the meeting. Brother
Corners said he drove to Billings in
his Chev, but judging from his weary
looks and the time it took him to get
to Billings, he must have driven a
team Of oxen. Nevertheless, he got
there in time for entertainment and
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