Montana labor news., 1937-02-18
What's Happening
in The Unions

VI ~
Bow Trades and Labor Council.
Last Saturday evening a public
hearing was held on Montana's pro-
posed unemployment compensation
measure, that is being drafted to
comply with the National Social Sc
curity Act. President Graham of
the Federation of Labor called the
members of the Executive Board to
Helena. Those present besides Mr..
Graham were Laverne Hamilton of
Musselshell, Mr.. Hodges of Great
Falls, Ed Nichols of Deer Lodge,
Jack Driscoll, Paul Erler and Pat
Deloughery of Butte. Many other
representatives of labor organiza-
tons were there including Billings
and Miles City.
Graham made a splendid talk be-
fore the joint committee of the
House and Senate which has charge
of this measure and voiced objection
on proposed employee tax in the
benefit features of the bill. The
committee promised that this tax
would be deleted. Graham also made
other objections and submitted an
amendment providing for a sliding
scale of compensation. Under Mr..
Graham's plan, the size of a family
would determine the amount of COM
~pensation instead of having a flat
allowance as it was originally pro-
posed.
Paul Erler, chairman of the Roose-
welt Ball, requests that all outstand-
ing tickets and money be immediate
ly returned to DR.. Sullivan at the
Butte Optical Co, 100 N. Main St.,
so that a proper account car be
made.
Some discussion arose over the
petitions that are now being circu-
lated to buy some property in the
proximity of the new high school
and to construct a stadium on it and
to otherwise beautify the grounds.
The petitions are for the purpose of
getting enough signatures to hold an
election to float another bond issue.
The Trades and Labor Council
was not in possession of sufficient
facts to warrant either approval or
condemnation, so that a committee
of five were appointed to ascertain
all available data and report back
next Tuesday.
James O'Leary, president of the
Miners Union and a member of the
Legislative Committee of the Trades
and Labor Council, made a recon-
mendation that the Trades and La
Dor Council oppose the present Cope
land Bill which provides for the use
of continuous discharge books by
seamen. 1t was brought out in this
report that these record books could
be used for blacklisting purposes.
These books must be brought from
one job to another and constitute a
record of the employment of the sea-
man.
The San Francisco Trades and La
Dor Council is demanding a con-
gressional hearing on this bill and
amendments that have been sub
mitted to it.
The Trades and Labor Council is
going to notify both our senators and
congressman to support the requests
of the San Francisco organizations.
The Miners Union again called at
tention to their proposed coopera-
tive store. The report stated that
papers have been filed in Helena and
subscriptions for stock in the new
enterprise are being solicited. About
$50 individuals have signed up. The
first stockholders meeting will take
place on March 21st and all interest
ed parties including representatives
of unions are invited to be present
Under the charter, issued by the
state, 30 per cent of the members
of the new cooperative enterprise
must be members of organized labor.
1t was pointed out that only stock
holders are allowed to receive pat
ronage dividends after the store be-
comes operative. Should individuals
purchase commodities from the store
then refunds or dividends which
they receive from those purchases
will not be given to them in cash
but will be supplied to the purchase
Ol SlOCk.
The cooperative meetings of the
Miners Union are held every Mon
day night at the Miners Union Hall
A communication was received
from the Yellowstone Trades and
Labor Council notifying the Mon
tana Bottlers Association that the
Northern Hotel at Billings is unfair
Allegation is made that this concern
intends to hold a convention at the
Northern Hotel this month. 1t was
hoped that they will not do so as
labor may have to take retaliatory
measures.
Some of the delegates expressed