Montana labor news., 1939-11-30


he farmers of the state of Montana.
Unions are urged to send represent
ltives to the meeting at the Miners
lall, December l.
The Bartletsville, Oklahoma,
and Labor Council submitted
, plan to the Trades and Labor
Council to effect unity in the Ameri-
IAN labor movement; to heal the
preach between the CLIO and A. F.
If L. A touch of condemnation was
limited in the communication toward
he leaders of both the national
and indicated that if the rank
and file voiced sufficient pressure
hat unity can be achieved. The
communication was given to the
educational committee for study and
or correspondence with Bartlets-
vile Trades Council.
A long discussion over the report
IF the grievance committee in a
meeting which that committee had
leld with the Plumbers Union re-
to the Owsley building and
Fred Grandpre and Andy Davis of
The First National Bank occurred
last Tuesday. Reproaches were di-
rected especially to Fred Grandpre
and Mr.. Davis. 1t was limited that
.randpre had always signified a
deep antagonism to any form of
lnionism. Although not particular
Iy mentioned in the Trades Council,
it is well known that Andy Davis
feels the same way, and in this con-
nection it is only just to mention
that the First National Bank as the
of Mr.. Grandpre, who is
agent for the Owsley building, owes
certain definite considerations to the
tenants of the Owsley building. 1t
mas been remarked on the streets OF
Butte that when some of the tenants
Of the Owsley block who have been
there over a period of a quarter of
a century, asked Mr.. Davis of the
First National Bank to comply with
the very reasonable request of the
Engineers Union that Mr.. Davis
arrogantly suggested that the tenant
move from the building. The re-
quest of the Engineers Union in re-
gard to taking care of the heating
system in the Owsley block is SC
reasonable and so fair that people
Of Silver Bow county are supporting
the contention of the Engineers
1t would be unfortunate if
the unions were compelled to keep
up this battle and have the tenants
Of the building desert the property
when through a word from the First
National Bank it would be so easy
to settle.
Thomas, chairman of the organiza-
ton committee, recommended that
the Quarry Workers be seated in the
Council, but that they straighten out
their constitution as to whether it is
AFL or CLIO. In their application
indicated that they belonged
to the CIO, but the constitution indi-
Gated that they belonged to the AFL.
However, it appears that the con-
stitution was written and adopted
before DETECTION of the Quarry
from the AFL two years
ago.
y
Ed Mason and Tom Kennedy of
the Miners Union made quite a
report of the action of the
Miners Union in bringing the Ana
eonda Company into court to show
cause why they should not recog-
nize the 8 hour laws of the state of
Montana. The contention Of the
Miners is that they are now work
ing more than 8 hours. The sub
iect is covered in another article.
Wellington Rankin of Helena and
Mr.. O'Donnell are representing the
Miners in the conflict.
Some cheering news was reported
at the Trades Council as to the Uni
yersity Professors Defense Commit
tee. 1t appeared from the report
that hundreds of students at the
University of Montana are extreme
y disappointed with the action of
he State Board of Education in the
recent dismissal of five professors.
Not only that, but condemnation
has been expressed by the students,
80 it was reported, because the adj
ninistration of the University per-
and apparently encourage
excessive overcharging of goods at
he University store which in some
instances, it was alleged, amounts
o almost 100 per cent of what the
same articles could be purchased
or downtown. Again it seems that
he Missoula Mercantile Company is
'eaping a rich harvest off of the
University students, many of whom
ire sons and daughters of the work
ng people of the state, who have
sacrificed themselves to send their
children to this institution. Reports
Urged that all organizations in the
state of Montana get behind the
to remove Simmons and to
'einstate the professors.
The delegates were glad to sec
Carl Simmons of the Musicians
Ts- - = -. -.-...t.-.-l H.