Montana labor news., 1937-01-07
STRIKING 5EAMEN
ASK FOR SUPPORT

MAhll WE CDETt llON Ut LIE
PACIFIC COAST
San Francisco, California
December %, 1886
The Secretary,
Central Labor Council,
Butte, Montana
Dear Sir and Brother:
The Maritime Strike on the Pacific
Coast is now in its Goth day, entirely
because of the actions of a few ship
owners, who are endeavoring to
| smash our Maritime Unions. T. G..
Plant, spokesman for the employers,
stated in one of his unguarded mo-
ments recently that they were pre-
pared to tie up the Pacific Maritime
Industry for two years, if necessary,
to bend the unions to their will.
These ship owners have shut down
operations, tied up commerce and
locked out the entire maritime pro-
fession. Meanwhile, they are en-
gaging in an expensive publicity
campaign to blame the unions for
the tie-up, and to incite public opin-
ion against the unions.
That we are suffering hardships
goes without saying, but in addition
to this, we are faced with the neces-
sity of counteracting the extensive
publicity campaign of the employers
if the public is to know the truth
about this labor dispute. Not having
the press facilities o capital of the
ship owners, we are forced to COM
bat one of the most powerful propa-
ganda machines ever engaged
against the working people, with
very poor facilities and volunteer la
Dor from our own ranks. Right will
prevail.
Our case is really a desperate one.
On our shoulders falls the response
bility of winning a life and death
struggle which may decide, besides
our own fate, the fate of the entire
Union and Liberal movement in the
Pacific Coast Area.
Around San Francisco Bay are
concentrated 10000 of the 10000
workers locked out. Thousands Of
wives and children are faced with g
cherries New Year and untold hard
ships. Our relief kitchens are cost
ing us more than 81 100000 per day
However, we are willing to shoulder
the hardships. We do not ask thai
you suffer the cold weather in oul
Waterfront Picket Lines, or that yol
tighten your belts and fight on hal.
rations, but we must have financia
aid in order to carry on this gigantic
struggle for our own existence anc
in the interests of all organized la.
Dor.
Our cause has been endorsed by
the Central Labor Council of Sar
Francisco as a just n and nj o
great public interest and importance
to organized labor throughout thu
country, worthy of the support o
organized labor both morally anC
financially. Our demands in thi
struggle are simple and just, in tina
we are trying to hold onto conces
sions granted us after the strike o
1884 by a Government Arbitration
Board, with minor changes in work
ing conditions and wages.
Will you please see that this in
/ formation gets to all labor organi
: cations of your territory, as an APP
peal for both moral and financia
/ support. All donations for relief TO
our stricken workers should b
mailed to-: Central Relief Committee
Mervyn Rathborne, Secretary, IL.
/, Market Street, Room SOC, San Fran
f cisco, Calf.
The fate of this struggle for De
cency, Democracy and Unionism il
the Pacific Coast Ports depends o.
/ you.
! Thanking you very sincerely TO
your cooperation in this matter,
! remain,
Sincerely yours,
MERVYN RATHBORNE, Secre
tary Central Relief Committee
Maritime Federation of tn
pnn;fin nictrint Council Mo :