Montana labor news., 1939-03-09
kaIispe|I Unions Win
Signal vidory Over
Montana Power 20.


The Mountain States Power Com
pany has been instructed by the
National Labor Relations Board to
make a satisfactory settlement with
employees in the construction and
maintenance department of the Kali
ispell division of the company, the
action growing cut of a charge of
alleged anti-union and unfair labor
practices extending as far back as
1886.
Acting for the National Labor Re-
lations Board, Investigator J. w.
Kelly arranged terms for the settle
ment, following a detailed investi-
cation of the formal charge filed
with the Denver regional office of
the board February l, 1889, by Kalis-
pell Local Union 1853 of the Inter-
national Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers, acting as agent for the
employees. Checks for payment of
back wages totaling over two thou
sand dollars have been issued to the
eleven men directly concerned and
the company has been ordered to
post notices throughout the K~alispell
division guaranteeing to refrain, in
the future, from any and all unfair
labor practices. In addition an agree
ment has been signed by the COM
pany with the National Labor Rela-
tons Board and Local Union 1853
requiring that negotiations be i'm
mediately opened for the purpose of.
effecting a satisfactory revision of
the present contract between the
local union of Electrical Workers and
the company, and also requiring that
all employees, who were laid off, be
put back to work not later than
April LIST.
1t is reported that the affidavit
evidence assembled by the local
union in preparing the case indicates
that working conditions for the men
have involved in many instances
violation of commonly practiced
safety rules and regulations covered
by state laws as well as violations
within the meaning of the National
Labor Relations Act. These condi-
tons, it appears, have been existent
for several years and on numerous
occasions have been openly ignored
by certain of the authorized agents
of the company, when matters were
called to their attention by the en-
ployees. Local union officials state
that ample affidavit evidence is on
file to support this contention of
fragrant violation of safety measures.
Negotiations are now under way
between union and company off
Gals to cooperate in correcting the
Objectionable conditions. Negotia-
tons for a new closed shop agree
ment between Local 1853, I.B.E.W.,
and the power company are now
under way and it is anticipated that
no great difficulty will be en-
countered in making a satisfactory
agreement, especially in view of past
conditions.
An unusual layoff of several en-
ployees last November and Deem
Der which was preceded by months
of threats in varying degree and
form, brought the situation before
Local 1853 for investigation. The
arbitration committee members Sc
lected to interview company officials
were openly ridiculed by Division
Manager H.. M. Edmonds for their
efforts to gain a fair consideration
of complaints and so were left no
alternative except to seek the assist
ance of the NLRB in gaining justice.
Assembling of the necessary fac
tual evidence was commenced Janu-
airy Is and on February LIST the for
NAL charge of violations of the Ma
tional Labor Relations Act under
Section s, %Subsections One, Two and
Three, was mailed to the Denver
of the NLRB. Receipt of the
information was received from
Charles A. Graham, twenty-second
regional attorney for the board, on
February 6 and on February 81 In
vestigator J. w. Kelly was in Kalis-
pell ready to work on the case. Com
plete terms of settlement were signed
by the company manager, the arbi-
tration committee of Local 1853 and
MI. Kelly on February % and checks
ranging in amounts from $187.50 to
$3.50 were issued to eleven men the
following day.
It is significant to note that the
above outline of the efficient hand
ling Of the case by Mr.. Kelly was
greatly aided by the united coopera-
ton of the employees directly con-
cerned, more than twenty affidavits
being filed with the original charge,
following two weeks of intensive
work by the union arbitration COM
assisted by Perry S. Melton,
secretary of the Kalispell Central
Council. Preparation of the
and supporting affidavit evil
dence was highly complimented by
regional attorney, Charles A.. Ora
ham, in a letter to Secretary Melton.
Local 768 expects TO take immedi-