Montana labor news., 1937-06-03
Independent Home Merchants
Just As Selfish AS Chain
Stores; Both Trying to Crush
Workers.
Clerks Are Lowest Paid of All
Groups.

Many g%roundless rumors are circu-
lating concerning the clerks strike.
Someone started a canard that thc
teamsters had become involved but
statements made by officers of that
organization prove that the team
sters union is not in any way con-
cerned nor has any action been taken
by the teamsters union to become
involved, except that the teamsters
are not delivering from the whole
sale houses. Quite a bit of talk is
current about an allegation that the
wholesale houses IRE refusing to sell
commodities, but no substantiation
of any such action could be obtained.
No member of the clerks union is
working in the wholesale houses
and up to the present time, goods
from these establishments have been
put up by the manager or other
officers of these concerns.
The Employers Association and the
managers or other executives of the
larger stores who have refused to
sign the clerks agreement seem to
be determined to crush the demands
made by the clerks. The clerks
went on strike May II, requesting a
rs per cent increase in wages. A
statement made by the union at that
time and which was given out for
publication showed that they had not
received an increase in wages for
18 years and that the demand for
the rs per cent increase was ex-
tremely reasonable. The employers
offered a 10 per cent raise. The
basic scale of the clerks at the pres
ent time is $3.50 for men and 1888
for women. On the 10 per cent
basis, men would receive 1923 a day
and women 1886 per day if they
accepted the 10 per cent offer. The
clerks union rejected the offer of
the 10 per cent increase. Since that
time the employers have not made
any additional ~overtures. The en-
tire blame for the continued closing
of the stores in Butte rests squarely
on their shoulders. 1t is usually
customary, in conflicts involving en-
ployes and employers where one side
has made certain demands and the
other n has come back with the
counter proposition and both have
been rejected, for one side or the
other to make an additional pro-
posal.
The average labor man and bust
ness man must feel that the differ
ences between the clerks and en-
ployers should be settled and can
be if the principle of collective bar
gaining is put in effect by both
sides with the intention of reaching
an agreement satisfactory to the
clerks, employers and the public.
At the Central Labor Council last
Tuesday some of the merchants who
are operating at the present time
but who are not employing any
clerks came in for bitter condemna-
ton. The clerks have been generous
in allowing this type of merchandise
establishments to stay open in order
to accommodate the people. The sit
uation is just exactly this, the man
ager or owner of the store here
mentioned is conducting his estab-
lishment and selling merchandise.
Some of these stores formerly had
a staff of clerks, they have not
signed the agreement, but + reap
ing the profits and exploiting a stu
alton which has developed over the
big stores being closed down. The
men and women in the labor move
ment do not look with a great deal
of favor or kindness upon these
establishments that are on the border
line between being fair and unfair.
1t is time for the Government to
investigate the unreasonable attitude
of the employers. The pro~longation
of this strike is needless and rests
entirely with the employers. The
situation as it exists now only furth-
(ropf;nr,ed on paua AZ