The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-07-01

employees in the mines made plans for
many needed necessities denied them
for years. Business people also ex-
banded to take care of increased bust
ness promised by increased employment
and increased wages. The CLIO engin-
eered strikes in the industrial centers
have put considerable crimp into all
these plans.
AS near as can be ascertained, the
matter of wages, hours of labor and
such other pertinent matters are not
in dispute in the steel industry. CLIO
wants recognition as the sole bargain
ing agency wherever they have foot
jority of one anywhere in membership
will give the union controlled by John
L. Lewis this power not considering
the other 40 per cent of employees who
may feel otherwise.
This matter is in dispute here as
we'll as elsewhere. Local unions among
employees have been formed at the
Oliver and Zenith mines and officers
have been chosen for each group. At a
meeting held two weeks ago, called for
the purpose, A. Y. Peterson, vice presi-
dent and general manager of the Oliver
Iron Mining company, informed the
Oliver group that their organization
had been recognized by the company as
the sole bargaining agency for the Pr
oneer and Sibley mines on their show
ing of having majority of the en-
ployes in the organization.
The CLIO affiliate, Lodge No. 1864, of
the Amalgamated Association of Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers also have an
organization among the miners of the
city and claim a majority in the
Pioneer and Sibley mines. This group
presented contract to the Oliver COM
pany a week ago Monday seeking re-
cognition as the sole collective bargain
ing agency. So far, no answer has been
received from the company.
Subjects pertaining to these matters
are expected to be investigated by the
committee decided on by the club at
Fridays meeting. In the meantime the
business people of the city are talking
over the union situation with the in
tention of informing themselves and
others of what is best for the COM
munity as a whole and bringing the
matter to a successful termination.
Sentiment among the business people
is crystalizing in favor of local unions
quite rapidly according to opinions ex-
pressed the past week. Many feel that
the men at the head of mine organi-
cations are willing and able to manage
the bargaining affairs between the men
and the company officials very salts
factorily and the Affiliations with the
eastern controlled organization is un-
good of the community.
Every week names are being added
to the Oliver employees organization
rolls, according to statements made by
Miss Frances Spooner, secretary
Nothing daunted, however, the CLIO is
putting on renewed efforts in Ely to
sign members, claiming this city as a
key to the situation on the other range
communities where the going is hard
for the CLIO. Hibbing- Chisholm dis
trict claims to have about 80 per cent
signed up in local unions. The Eveleth-
Virginia district is strongly local &C
cording to accounts emaninating from
Eveleth the home community of Con-
gresham John T. Bernard who is cam
paigning for the CLIO besides drawing a
salary of $4,000 for being a congress
man.
Ely lodge of the iron and steel
workers affiliated with the Committee
of Industrial Organization held a meet
ing Sunday afternoon at which an
nouncement was made that negotiations
would be opened today with the Oliver
Mining Company for recognition.
Congressman Bernard addressed the
gathering and the small attendance, at
tributed to other attractions, listened to
him slay corporations. He stated, &C
cording to reporter present that For
80 years have been fighting to or
ganize union, but failed, but I'm not
going to be licked this time-I know it."
Continuing he said, never in the his
tory has organized labor had an op-
portunity such as this, besides Mime
sofa is the best state in the Union for
the CLIO. Your governor, Elmer Ben
son, is behind you"
Martin Mackie, district organizer, told
the members that negotiations would
begin Tuesday with an independent
concern at Virginia, Butler Bros. at
Crosby, and other concerns on this and
the Guyana range.