Montana labor news., 1937-03-04
BILLINGS OFFICE OF WpA ASKS FOR
THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE BY LABOR

The matter before you is not the
reduction of the prevailing wages
or increasing hours of labor, but to
find out if the present short month
period is favorable to those not con-
nected with WPA, or not.
This office is in no way taking
sides on the matter. The discussion
will be left open to all concerned to
decide if the present system of work
ing hours shall continue in the flu
ture. We want to impress that the
purpose of this letter is not in any
way connected with either reducing
the present scale of wages or in
~creasing the hours of labor to the
disadvantage of the WPA workers.
I will try to arrange mass meet
ings in each county where Labor Or
CARNATIONS are in existence for the
purpose of receiving first hand in
formation from various Labor I'm
ions IN District Two.
Yours very truly,
Works Progress Administration,
Joe Bosone, Supervisor Divi-
sion of Employment.
Approved.
L. G. DeNayer, Director, District 2.
Z
WORKS PROGRESS ADMINS
TRATION OF MONTANA
Helena, Montana,
February -, 1897.
Mr.. L. G. DeNayer, Director
Works Progress Administration
Billings, Montana
Dear Mr. DeNayer:
Enclosed, for your information, is
a memorandum from DR.. J. G. john
son, Regional Representative of the
WPA, setting forth rate averages of
all the states in the Union. You
will note from the contents of the
memorandum that a question has
arisen regarding the hourly rates
established in Montana. AS these
rates are set forth by exchange of
communications with the districts, it
is desirable, on our part, that these
rates again be checked with the pre-
vailing rates existing in each of your
counties.
In the past a great deal of discus
sion has occurred regarding the rates
forth in Montana, and it is the
opinion of outside observers that this
high hourly rate has a tendency to
work a hardship on those workers
who are not on the WPA program.
In order that a correct and compre-
hensive explanation can be given for
these rates, I will suggest that the
District Directors delegate their la
Dor representative to contact various
union groups and interested individ-
lals within their district, explaining
IN detail the manner in which rates
were adopted and ask the general
whether, in their opinion,
The short work period established by
he WPA in Montana works to their
disadvantage or not. My purpose
'or doing this is to get a true and
concise picture from all representa-
i've groups and a general public
whether there is an advan-
age Of having a short work period
md allowing a WPA worker to seek
n the open labor market additional
work to supplement his WPA earn
ngs.
It is my desire that the represent
tive who brings this picture to the
'arious organizations be u%npreju-
lied on any point, allowing for open
discussion Of this entire matter. I
that from an intelligent dis
.ussion on this very controversial
ubject will come a true picture and
will also allow the WPA in the State
# Montana to establish a definite
If it is possible, notes should be
aiken when the various discussions
re held and a comprehensive report
ent to this office; then we will be
n a better position to establish a
more harmonious working plan be-
ween those working on WPA and
hose not working on WPA.
Hoping that you will be able to
Immediately embark upon this plan,
remain,
Yours very truly,
E. c. Burris, Director Division of