Montana labor news., 1938-07-28

1t was pointed out that the farmers
did not necessarily have to join the
union in that they were owners of
the property on which they were
working and the work was tenn
porary.
The $4,000 project is expected to
be completed about October l, it
was said.
In connection with the above re-
print in a Kalispell paper there is
another story that went on between
the unions and the Flathead Power
Company in regard to organization
of the men on the job. 1t is felt
that the following letters are so in
teresting and tell such a graphic
story that they should be reprinted
in full. They illustrate that the
farmers and union members of Flat
head County know how to get to-
gether when a problem comes up.
It is hoped that they are able to con-
tinue on such friendly terms.
Kalispell, Montana,
July Is, 1888.
Board of Directors,
Flathead Power Co.,
REA Project No. 8013,
Kalispell, Montana.
Gentlemen:
Regarding your inquiry and objec-
ton to the method of handling en-
ployment of common labor on your
project now under construction, the
local unions involved take this means
to briefly outline their stand on the
matter.
The contracting firm of Cahill and
Mooney, through their representa-
tives, Mr.. Cahill and Mr.. O'Leary,
have definitely stated to all parties
concerned their prefetsnce for union
labor hired through yhe delegated
agents of the unions concerned. This
privilege of hiring as they see fit,
within the bonds of their contract,
is a commonly recognized privilege
of contractors.
Being interested in, and, in a
measure, responsible for the welfare
and employment of the members OF
their respective unions, the repre-
~sentatives of the Laborers, Electrical
Workers and Truck Drivers Unions
obtain employment for their mem
bers at every opportunity, believing
that men who follow a certain line
of work for a livelihood are entitled
to all such work available. To gair
as much employment as possible is
obviously the reason for organiza-
ton and cooperation of fellow work
ers. Through this organization anc
cooperation the members of the
unions, in this case have been for.
tunate enough to gain recognition
and preference by Cahill and Moo.
ney, contractors.
In view of the fact that a volun.
tary attempt was made by the con.
tractors (who obviously prefer unior
labor 100 per cent?, and the unions
to cooperate in giving employment
as far as possible to such farmers al
might be interested, it seems entirely
fair that the original plan adopted
by the contractors and the unions i
workable and should be allowed Il
continue.
This plan is to follow the Gus
tomary procedure, commonly recog
nized by most employers and al
branches of organized labor, an,
issue working permits through tn
unions to non-union men desirin
employment on the project in ques
ton. The issuing of such permits t
be handled in the following manner
l. Permits will be issued through
the union business agent concerned
only as the contractor calls for mer
These permits shall be good for
period of thirty days from date o
issue and shall cost the applicant tn
sum of one dollar ($1).
In view of the fact that the labor
ers' scale of wages on the projec
has been raised from go cents to tn
established and prevailing unto.
scale of IS cents per hour, whic
raise was due solely to the effort
and influence of the Laborers Unior
the sum of 81 for a permit seems
us M more than fair.
2. Only a bona fide stakeholder
the Flathead Power Co. or his Sol
having a Laborers Union permi
will be placed on the job. Thi
placement will be made on a mar
for-man basis with members of tn
Laborers Union, that is, one stock
holder or his son for each unto
member on the job.
Placing of stockholders or thei
sons on the job will be made
rotation from the list of names no.
in the possession of the Laborel
business agent. This list was fun
nished the business agent by tn
board of directors of the Flathea
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