Montana labor news., 1937-08-05
The Formation Of Local
497, American Fedora
tion Of Teachers
Continued from Page d

depended upon a friendly under
standing between labor and the Uni
versity administration. Only one
conclusion could be drawn when the
legislature adjourned. there was no
such friendly understanding between
labor and the University admins
tration.
Early in 1887, the American Fed
Grafton of Teachers local at the Uni
versity of Washington had taken up
with faculty members in Missoula
the matter of forming a local of the
A, F. of T, on the campus of Mon
tana State University. Nothing was
done at that time though there was
a great deal of discussion. Toward
the end of March, a large number of
faculty members saw the great value
in a Teachers Union, and since no
one else would take the lead, Pro-
lessor Keeney undertook organiza-
ton of a local. The following five
detectives were decided upon: y
salary restoration; q pensions; - al
sliding scale of salaries based upon
economic status; A. a state tenure
law; 81 support of the millage fund
which again comes up for popular
referendum in 1899. No one could
say that these five planks were anti
administration measures, since all of
them were aimed toward improve
ment of conditions at the University.
Professor Keeney was asked be-
fore circulating the application for
charter if he had discussed the
formation of the local with the adj
ministration. The customary pro-
cedure in the formation of any UNI
ion is first, organization, and second,
discussion; the usual order seemed
preferable in this case. There is
nothing in the record of the present
administration of the University to.
indicate that a Teachers Union
would be welcome on the campus.
But with organized labor so powerful
in the state, it was reasonable to as
sumo that there would be no re-
prisals when the A. F. of 7. local
was an accomplished fact, particu-
larly since real benefits would ac-
crue to the University from the I'M
ionization of faculty members. AS
members of organized labor well
know, there were immediate repris-
ais in the disciplining of Professor
Rowe, the temporary chairman, and
the dismissal Of Professor Keeney,
the organizer.
Though the primary reasons for
forming Local 497 were benefits to
be enjoyed by the University and
faculty members, we have no desire
or intention to stop with their reali-
zation. We expect to unite our
strength with that of all the laboring
forces in the state, and fight for the
adoption of principles which will
improve the lot of all workers,
whether of hand or brain. A few of
us who are conversant with the his
tory of Montana know that this sec
ondary objective will entail a long
and arduous struggle, but we are
fully prepared to do our part toward
accomplishing the end for which we
are best fitted: making all students
aware of modern conditions, and
teaching them to understand histori-
cally and economically the basic is
sues of the employer-employee re-
lationship. A few of us had tried
to do this in the past, but we were
far from successful since we had to
teach through innuendo. Now that
we r an integral part of the labor
movement, it should be possible to
make changes in the curriculum in
order to furnish students with a new
perspective and understanding.
Some of us know the theory of
economic change, but hardly any of
us have attempted to put it into
practice. With the support of Labor,
we can take an active part in the
courageous struggles of the workers,
and we can further their detectives
in furthering our own. This practi-
cal cooperation should do much to
break down the barrier which has
existed for years between teachers
and employees. In the last analysis,
all teachers r employees, subject
to the same determinations and in
justice to which hand-workers are
subject. Our knowledge and learn
ing will be at the disposal of all
laboring forces in Montana, for only
in cooperation between hand and
brain workers can be built up the
unanimity SO necessary for the gen.
eral betterment of society.
The members of Local 497 are
aware of the seriousness of the tasks
which lie ahead. Their success or
failure is largely dependent upon
solution of the labor war which is
going or at Montana State Universe
ty. Acceptance of the reprisals for
formation of Local ACT, will mean