Montana labor news., 1938-03-31
Anaconda LaboHies
Hear Report Bearing
On State Buildings
Convict Labor Is Condemned;
Workers Alliance Praised.

Convict Labor Is Condemned;
Workers Alliance Praised.
ANACONDA.-The Central Labor
Council of Anaconda held its regular
meeting March 20 in the lower
A. o. H. hall. The meeting was
very well attended, and President
Ashelock asked the delegates to keep
this attendance up throughout the
year, as he pointed out there is al
ways something doing at the council
meetings in which the different I'M
ions are vitality interested. To miss
a meeting by a delegate it may be
just the time when a communica-
ton concerning his local union is
read, and it may be his union would
not hear of it. This is one of the
many reasons delegates representing
their unions should attend each
meeting.
Secretary Healy read many COM
%munications which were of interest
to the delegates, and they were
asked to bring these reports back to
their unions.
Brothers Tim Donohue and Bust
ness Agent John Mogus made fine
reports of the meeting held in Warm
Springs concerning the brutality in
flicted upon an inmate of the institu-
ton, with state officials Harry Free
bourn, Governor Ayers, and Sam
Mitchell. This committee heard all
the evidence. The guards who in
flicted the punishment on the in
mate have been discharged. And
from the report given the councils
committee by the authorities this
condition will not arise at Warm
Springs again.
It was also promised by state Off
Gals that at the next session of the
legislature money would be appro-
priated to put all employees of the
state buildings and other state
owned enterprises upon an eight
hour work day and get away for all
time from this twelve and sixteen
hours for workers.
Delegate Glenn McPhail of the
Hold Carriers Union made a good
report of the meeting he attended at
Deer Lodge, with state officials, re-
garding the erection of the license
plate building with convict labor.
The use of convict labor in the cree
ton of this building was protested
throughout the state, and it was an
nounced at this meeting that the
state would construct the building
with organized union labor. Some
of the material is already on the
grounds so the work will be started
as soon as weather permits.
Henry Murray of the Workers AL
lance of Great Falls explained the
workers case in the recent contro-
very with the WPA, During his re-
marks he asked the endorsement of
the council, both morally and finan-
cially, for the five men who are
charged with grand larceny. After
his departure a motion was passed
to concur in his request, the proper
officials notified and a donation of
$40 made for their defense.
A written complaint was brought
in from the BARRIERS Union, charging
one of the local garbage men with
patronizing the unfair barber shop
operated by Kendall Bros. After
being read, it was given to the
grievance committee which will
bring in a report at the next meet
ing.
Barney McGreevey was obligated
as a delegate from the Butchers
Union.
Brother Donohue asked questions
concerning the contemplated street
oiling and paving project being
sponsored by the city of Anaconda
early in spring. Treasurer Dan S.
Lyons, who is a city councilman, an
swered the questions to the salts
faction of all concerned. He stated
that it was the intention of Mayor
T. j. McCarvel and all of the alder
men that this work be done by local
union labor, with the exception of
the oiling which may be contracted,
and in that event all possible local
labor would be used. The work is
to be started as soon as possible and
should give employment to many.
A letter was received from the
local branch of the Workers ALI
ance, which organization has done
much for the WPA workers, asking
financial support. After some dis
cussion $40 was donated.
1t was urged that all local unions,
especially those affiliated with the
council, have their local union sub
scribe for the Montana Labor News,
Much is coming up along labor lines
and it is through the medium of the
Montana Labor News that latoring
men can keep in touch with what is
going on not only in Anaconda but
throughout the state.
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