Montana labor news., 1937-01-21
MI5S0ULA UNIONS
TELL WHY FIRMS
ARE B0Y(0TTED
Appeal for Better Understand
ing.

In response to several inquiries
received from time to time why Ger
tain business firms or employers are
placed on the unfair list while others
seemingly equally guilty of chiseling
tactics are not also at the same time
included under such unfair ban, may
we present the following statement?
In the absence of a well organized
and properly conducted employers
association to assist the labor organ
izations to maintain stabilized bust
ness and working conditions, that
responsibility is resting on the labor
organizations alone. Instead of hav-
ing q set of officers, representing all
the employers and business men, to
deal with in a round table discus
sion and with which to enter into
an agreement on a collective bar
gaining basis, in Missoula, labor or
CARNATIONS are forced to deal with
each employer or business man as
an individual. That in itself explains
the reason why, after negotiations
have been carried on for consider
able time, certain individuals Or
firms are placed on the unfair list.
In several cases, relations with or
ganized labor have been entered into
only to be violated at the first OPP
portunity which in itself has brought
upon such individual the ban placed
against him by organized labor
Without going into lengthy and tire
some detail, let it be understood that
in each case the affected party has
full opportunity to be heard in his
own defense and to show any reason
he may have why he should continue
to have the good will and patronage
of organized labor and their friends.
The experience Of the nation
through the last several years has
amply proven that the welfare of
the nation depends on the welfare of
the nations workers, who also are
the nations main consumers. Much
has been said and written about the
necessity of guaranteeing all workers
employment at a living wage. Any
effort made in that direction, how
ever, is usually met with the most
vehement opposition. Legislation
enacted to carry out the purpose has
been declared unconstitutional. Ad-
vocates of a more just distribution of
the fruits of labor have been i'm
prisoned and their followers ridi-
culed and ostracized; all presumably
to perpetuate a business method
which inevitably invites its w de-
struction.
To safeguard against even worse
depressions to come, there is a cry
ing need of organization and with it
education. One-sided as organiza-
ton effort in Missoula has been. it
has been an agency for sterilization
purposes. Although no merchants
or employers association has been in
existence in Missoula, there has been
a well defined and recognized stand
ard of living below which it has
been considered improper to go.
That, we think, explains why Mis-
soula has been comparatively free
from strikes and labor controversies.
That such conditions can be
brought about and maintained with
out concerted effort on the part of
the citizens in each community we
know is impossible. We feel certain
that stabilized conditions in each
community can be maintained only
through we'll established organiza-
tons with collective bargaining
agreements entered into and rigidly
maintained. We welcome the CO.
operative assistance of employers
through their own established or
ganization in combating chiseling
competitors who come into the com
munity to take advantage of the
better conditions established here
but without any desire or intention
to play the part necessary to main
taln those better conditions. In the
absence of such cooperative assist
ance, however, it becomes all the
more urgent on the part of labor to
continue their effort to maintain a
decent standard of living.
Organized labor recognizes and
willingly comedies that business in
order to be successful must of neces-
sity retain for itself more than that
given for service rendered by labor.
Likewise to be a successful worker
and in order to continue in employ
ment, such worker expects to give
o to his employer than what is
returned to the worker in the form
OF wages. It is the degree of differ
entiation that needs be watched
Jealously. To do this requires or
ganization, education and co-opera-
ton.
Missoula County Central
Trades and Labor Council