Montana labor news., 1937-05-06
SMELTERMEN PROTEST
ACTION OF A. F. OF |.
I'm GRANTING CHARTER
Condemn Recognition Of Com
pany Union in GaIena, Kansas.

EH -
The Great Falls Mill and Shelter
mems Union has notified the Cas-
cade Assembly that it condemns the
action of the American Federation
of Labor in granting a charter to
the so-called Blue Card Union in
the Tri-State District.
In order to put into practical exc
cution the sentiments Of the Smelt-
ermen's organization, a resolution
was drafted by that body and sub
mitted to the Central Council. The
action Of the Smeltermen was con
Cured in by the Assembly. The
resolution follows:
Whereas-A situation has devel-
oped in the mining district Of Kan
sas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, known
as the Tri-State District, that has
never been equalled in the annals
of the history Of the labor move
ment, namely the recommendation
of a State Central Council to the
A.. F. Of L. for the granting of q
charter to a union whose nucleus are
former gunner, strikebreakers anc
scabs.
And Whereas-Even though a diff
ference of opinion exists between
the leaders of the A. F. Of L. anc
the c. I. o. an act of this kline
would mean the birth Of the worst
cancer in the labor movement, {
cancer that would be nursed anc
developed by the big associations o.
industry, all reactionary labor hat
ing employers, the National Cham.
Der Of Commerce Or lay organize.
ton that is openly opposed to the
labor movement, it will build a pro.
gram for these r%eactionaries to off.
set the benefits the worker derive.
from the Wagner Labor Act, and dc
this by flying scab unions under the
banner of the A. F. of L. and,
Whereas-We do not believe tina
the rank and file are in favor o.
these rotten tactics, knowing tina
the whole labor movement will BIZ
jeopardized by the personal feeling,
and lack of foresight of a few die.
t~atorial leaders of labor, and
Whereas-We know that the cor.
porations in the Tri-State are the
worst opponents and ~exploiters o.
labor and that the Executive Coun-
Gil of the A. F. of L. are cognizan-
to this fact, even to the extent o.
%concurring in labelling all the prod.
ucts of the Eagle Picher Lead Co
and the Commerce mine and Royal,
ties unfair to organized labor, thi,
fact proving that they are ignoring
the best interests of labor to carry
on a personal fight, and,
Whereas-We know that a Con
gressional investigation is being
asked for in this district, based OF
the actions of these companies il
their unlawful exploitation of labor
and their methods of hiring gunner
and strikebreakers to intimidate tn,
| ,,;,oo,.~ ooI 4hoi,. fa,o;I;oc
Therefore-Be it resolved that thi
organization communicate with tn,
Executive Council of the A. F. of L
and demand that all support of thi
organization of Berghoff gunner
and strikebreakers be withdrawn
and that they notify the Oklahom;
Federation of this fact, and that the,
give every possible aid to the L. U
of M. M. & S. W. to clean up thi
rotten situation for the good of or
ganized labor in general, and be il
Further Resolved-That copies o
this resolution be sent to the Okla
homa State Federation of Labor, ant
that it be taken up on the Cascad,
County Trades and Labor Assembl,
floor with a request that they con
cur and take immediate action OF
this matter.
Respectfully submitted by Mill &
Smeltermen's Union No. 16.
President Steinmetz Makes Report
President Steinmetz of the union
reported that he had been in Bill
lings recently and while there wa
informed that a number of firms il
Billings were demanding that worl
done for them be by non-union la
Dor. This is a rather unusual con
dition, but Steinmetz feels that tn
unions are making much progress
in Yellowstone County and that bet
ter conditions r hoped for in tn,
future.
A report that has been goin,
around the state regarding reduction
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