Montana labor news., 1937-08-19
Teamsiers Hold Slate
Convention al kaIispeI

A regular meeting of the state
committee International Brotherhood
of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stable
men, and Helpers was held at Kalis-
pell Sunday, August 8. Practically
all local unions had their representa-
tives present. Reports Of delegates
show a large increase in practically
every city in Montana. Kalispell
local, the last organized, is making
good progress. An entertainment
was put on in advance for the state
representatives. Members of the new
local in Kalispell seem to be well
pleased with the organization and
this is the first time the delegates
noticed that wives of all the mem
bers were wearing Transfers but
tons. The Kalispell local at the pres
ent time has about Sc members. The
outside representatives wish to thank
the Kalispell local union for the en-
tertainment and trip to Glacier Park.
Many of the state representatives
never had visited it before.
1t was reported in the committee
that the State Highway Commission,
after many months of negotiations
between the transfers and the com
mission, finally granted all mainten-
ance men 10 to 20 cents an hour in
crease in wages. This is the first
time since the State Highway Com
mission was organized that the
maintenance men working directly
for the state had been able to get
an increase in wages. It was only
through the efforts of the state COM
mittee that this wage increase was
granted. We hope in the future to
again be able to negotiate another
increase for the maintenance men
working for the highway commits
sion. This is public work carried on
by money that comes from the gas
tax in this state and there is no
reason why the State Highway Com
mission shouldn't pay wages that
compare with truck drivers wages
in other industries.
1t was reported by the delegates
in Bozeman that they were having
trouble there with the Nash-Finch
Company and they had been de-
clared unfair. 1t seems that through
the Nash-Finch Company and the
Pacific Fruit Company, when it
comes to organizing and getting con-
tracts, combine and force the smaller
dealers not to sign up with Transfers
Unions in the state. The state com-
mittee recommends that every Team
sters local in the state take action to
break this combination, and also to
take this matter up with the Inter
national Organizers on the Pacific
coast.
The new contracts to be negotiated
between the Consolidated Trucking
Company were read before the COM
mittee which was instructed to mail
a copy to all local unions. The state
committee has made good progress
in organizing in the past two years.
Two years ago, there were less than
800 members in the Transfers locals
in this state. Last reports show that
close to 1,750 paid-up members or
ganized in the state of Montana. The
local unions that are members of
the committee have paid in $4,7 1881
for organizing work and have spent
S4,066.93 leaving a balance Of $696.98.
The committee during the past two
years has met before every local
union in Montana with the exception
of Miles City, and the next meeting
will probably be held there. The
next action Of che committee will be
to try and get a contract with some
big oil company to organize their
men all over the state. If the COM
mittee is successful in this, they will
recommend that all of their mem
bers %patronize the first company that
signs a statewide contract.