Montana labor news., 1937-09-23
BILL dunno VISITS TRADES COUNCIL WITH
SEVERAL OTHER PROMINENT LABOR MEN

Labor Council to become organized.
That is to join the Women's Protec-
tive organization. The Silver Bow
Trades and Labor Council is sup
porting the campaign to organize
these women.
The Silver Bow Trades and Labor
Council donated SIS to the Rotana
milk fund.
A communication from the Co.
operative Publishing Company of
Helena seeking finances to support
the undertaking was referred to a
special committee.
=
The Silver Bow Trades and Labor
Council reaffirmed its former stand
made at the inception of the Works
Progress Administration of insisting
that the prevailing rate of wages be
paid on government work. The
question arose over the increase in
hours that the women must labor in
the sewing rooms. The women were
originally working 70 hours and re-
ceiving u cents an hour. Although
some of the specialists were receiv-
ing as much as 81 cents an hour.
Recently the Works Progress Adj
ministration saw fit to increase the
hours of the women from u to SO
hours. The women in the sewing
rooms through the Workers Alliance
complained to the Works Progress
Administration and brought their
complaint also to the Silver Bow
Trades and Labor Council. This or
%ganization placed the whole matter
in the hands of a standing relief
committee consisting of Erler, Blew
EFT, and Mullaney.
This committee, in a visit to the
local WPA offices, were shown let
tiers from Salt Lake and other places
which complained of the low produc-
ton in the Butte sewing room and
that the wages paid were abnormally
high. It was explained to the com
mittee that it might be possible to
establish 80 hours as a security earn
ings period. This would allow the
women 6612 cents per hour. At the
time the Y cents was established as
a rate to be paid the women in the
sewing rooms by the Silver Bow
Trades and Labor Council, and the
Butte Building Trades Council, the
general laborers and members of the
Federal Labor Union, in other
words, the unskilled, workers were
receiving that amount of money,
namely 70 cents an hour. Since that
time the wages Of these men have
been increased to 80 cents an hour.
Contracts have been made by the
General Laborers Union with the
Montana Power Company, Butte
Water Company and individual con-
tractors to pay $6.40 for 8 hours
work, but the women did not share
in this uplift of wages. Now if the
women's time is increased from ~
to SO hours they are not only penal
lied in time but also in wages. If
the prevailing wages for women fol-
lowed the common scale of labor
in Silver Bow County, the women
should be receiving 80 cents per
hour.
In view of these considerations the
delegates at the Trades and Labor
Council felt that the original scale
of 70 cents should prevail and they
reaffirmed the action taken at the
inception of the sewing room project.
At last Thursdays meeting of the
Transfers Union, the Independent
Butchers were absorbed into that
organization.
Many compliments were expressed
in the hall Of the unions at the last
two meetings at the return of the
teachers. Last Tuesday Vice Presi-
dent Charles Davis served as chair
man Of the meeting in the absence
Of James Comba. All yer glad to
see Miss Leary and Miss Golubin
seated in the secluded southeast cor
ner of the auditorium.