Montana labor news., 1938-09-08
union
SEEKS TO RECOVER
ITS LOST AUTONOMY
(Continued from Pace b

Continued from Page y
much as the crossing of a T or the
dotting of an I and that the COM
pany entered into the contract only
with the two departments and not
with the different Internationals
comprising these departments.
We feel that we have been sold
into perpetual slavery under such
an insidious and iniquitous agree
ment and realize that it will be
necessary in order to recover the
identity and prestige of the I. B. E.
W.-insofar as the ability to nego-
tate with the company relative to
wages and working conditions-to
sever all connections with the
despicable agreement foisted upon
US by Mr.. Frey in 1884 and to this
end we desire to have the approval
of the International office for a
cessation Of work on September 10th,
which date represents the expiration
of the contract now in effect.
In conclusion, Mr.. President, we
wish to respectfully remind you that
the origination of the 1. B. f. w
was for unified protection of cleo
trieal workers and the formulation
Of improved working conditions and
increased wages.
If the International relinquishes
these fundamental rights and privi-
leges to some department of the
A. F. of L. then obviously it has no
right to continued existence as an
international brotherhood supposed
ly working for such laudable con
ditions
Please let us have your opinion
regarding cessation Of work on Sep
TENDER 10th as soon as convenient
and with as little circumlocution and
ambiguity as possible.
Very sincerely,
Committee or Negotiations Of
Local Union No. Is.
International Brotherhood
Electrical Workers
August %, 1888.
Committee Of Local Union IS,
l. B. f. W., P. o. Box 1877,
Butte, Montana.
Dear Sirs and Brothers:
This is to acknowledge receipt of
your letter Of August 12-delivered
here August 16-which came to my
attention this morning. My reply
will be brief and I trust clearly
understandable.
When you say:
'"The Constitution of the I. B. E. w.
and the working rules of our Locals
are now as worthless as any or
binary scrap of paper, because the
agreement with the company, in
which the rank and file has no voice
or part, supersedes our working
rules and bylaws and does not per
nit of any intervention by the
I. B. E. w"
you are, of course, overlooking the
Constitution of the Brotherhood it.
self. Your statement indicates com
plete unfamiliarity with the instru-
ment of administration.
The remarks in your letter are
uncalled for and l can assure you
that if they constitute evidence of
your best effort to bring about some
action by this office, I am indeed
glad that our interest in the welfare
of the membership enables us to
disregard your statements.
You may as well understand now
as later that this office is moved
only by its conception of proper pro
cedure and we refuse to be moved
by other than sound logic and sound
reason which your communication
seems to be entirely devoid Of.
Complying with your request:
t "Please let us have your opinion
regarding cessation of work on Sep
TENDER goth as soon as convenient
and with as little circumlocution and
[ ambiguity as possible"
{ I am advising you that u simple
answer at this time is No. This
: means that we will not at this time
t sanction nor grant permission for a
strike vote being taken by the local
union.
5 With all good wishes, / am,
: d. W. Tracy,