Montana labor news., 1939-07-20
MASS MEETING IN
OLD HIGH SCHOOL
CONDEMNS new
ACT OF CONGRESS

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Last Monday evening, July II,
almost 1900 people packed the high
school auditorium to hear Labor's
protest stoppage of WPAl the walk
off of 3,400 WPA workers in Silver
Bow county. Chairman of the meet
ing was Ed Mason, president of the
Butte Miners Union, and member of
Labor's Emergency Council.
The purpose of the meeting was
to hear a report of Labor's Emer-
gency Council and to form an or
~ganization of workers not now be-
longing to any union to operate dur
ing the emergency.
Clarence Blewett, editor of the
Montana Labor News, spoke first
on the program, urging all WPA
workers to organize. He stated that
organized labor faces one of the
most critical situations in its entire
history, because of the entire labor
provisions of the new 1910 relief
bill. He reviewed briefly the
struggles of labor having prevailing
wages established through the Nc
Carran amendment when the Works
Progress Administration was first
created. He expressed his doubt
that Congress represented the will
of the people in forcing the new re-
lief bill with its vicious provisions
on the unemployed and WPA work
ers at this time.
Norman LeFevre, an active mem
Der of the Miners Union who is as
sisting in the organization of the
United Office and Professional
Workers, urged eligible clerical
workers to align themselves to this
group. Leslie Levingood, member of
the Transfers Union and active in
the Emergency Council, reported on
various phases of its work and an
swered a number of questions put
to him by WPA workers in the audi
ence. At this point Labor's Emer-
gency Committee made its report
on a meeting held earlier in the eve
ming. Arvo Fredrickson reported
that Joseph Parker, state WPA
director, and Gregor Macmillan,
deputy administrator, met with the
Council and explained how provi-
sions of the new WPA bill will affect
workers in Silver Bow county. Mr..
Parker stated that many women
now working in the sewing rooms
will be discharged under the Is
months clause and on or before Sep
TENDER l, 30 per cent of the men
on works projects would receive
403's, involving 800 workers in all.
He stated further that security earn
ings of all workers in the unskilled
category may be reduced to $45 in
a few months.
Pete j. Connors, business agent
of the Transfers Union, pledged the
full support Of his organization.
Chairman Mason read the following
telegram from Senator Murray:
81 have given statement to press
that group in Senate supporting pro-
posed amendments restoring prevail
ing wage scales believe that the
strikes in WPA are embarrassing to
them in efforts to secure legislation.
Remedy lies in congressional action
only as WPA officials are compelled
to follow the law until changed.
We all feel that ending of strikes
will enhance chances for favorable
consideration of proposal at this ses-
sion. If strikes are ended we will
undertake to Immediately press for
consideration of amendment. You
will understand that the Senate
amended the bill by restoring the
prevailing wage scales but their ac-
ton was set aside by the conference
committee. We feel that this was
a great wrong and we are anxious
to have it corrected.
JAMES E. MURRAY"
Other speakers on the program
we're Reece Corey and Jean Murray.
The balance of the meeting was de-
voted to setting up an organization
to accommodate men and women
who do not belong to the Workers
Alliance or to the other crafts.