Montana labor news., 1939-05-04
WAGES INADEQUATE
TO SUSTAIN Miners IN
COMFORTABLE LIVING
Text of Radio Address Delivered on
May Day by William Mason,
Secretary-Treasurer of
Butte Miners Union.
Fellow miners, members of organ
lied labor and friends:

Fellow miners, members of organ
lied labor and friends:
May Day, 1889, finds the labor
movement facing many serious
problems.
Unity of Labor is the main ques-
ton: To unite the organized strength
of the Congress for Industrial Or
%ganization, the American Federation
of Labor and the Railroad Brother
hoods into one powerful national
setup is the key task. The future
achievements of the labor move
ment-perhaps its very existence
depend on the success of the unity
negotiations started by President
Roosevelt. For his efforts, the
President deserves our appreciation.
Of grave Importance also is the
question of economic security for
the masses of people. At the present
time, a great part of the population
of Butte have lost all sense of Sc
curity while considerable numbers
are faced with actual hunger. This
deplorable condition results from
restricted operations in the mines,
arbitrary layoffs on WPA and the
recent heartless and shameful cuts
in relief, old age pensions and other
welfare benefits. In a move to COM
pei correction of this disgraceful sit
%uation, many labor, ~fraternal, re-
ligious and other interested groups
in Butte and other cities have or
gained local conferences in prepara-
ton for a statewide meeting. The
Emergency Relief Conference, to be
held in the legislative chambers of
the state capitol in Helena on May
18th, needs to be the rallying point
for the struggle for economic Sc
in Montana.
Defend New Deal
The right of labor to organize,
together with the progressive aims
of the New Deal, are being assailed
by a powerful group of big business
representatives in Congress. Their
attempts to destroy Labor through
amendments to the National Labor
Act and through the vicious Dies
and Dempsey bills call for deter
mined resistance by every part of
the labor and progressive movement
in defense of the foreign-born work.
ers who make up such a large part
Of our community.
In general, the growth of Fascism
in this country and the aggressive
efforts of the Fascist nations to in
volve the world in another war re-
positive action by Labor and
the people in protection of freedom
and peace.
Increase Wages
Now I'd like to say something on
subject which is of vital immediate
interest to myself and to thousands
Of my brother union members in
Montana. This concerns the nego-
tiations being conducted by the
miners, smeltermen and crafts of
Anaconda and Great Falls
the Anaconda Company, in an
effort to secure a fair adjustment
Of wages and hours. An adjustment
would put into effect less
hours as intended by the Wages and
Hours Law and, at the same time,
increase wages so as to maintain a
standard of living for the
community.
To this end, the unions have been
negotiating with the Anaconda Cop
per Mining Company for the past
live months-without satisfactory
results. On the eve of the Wages
Hours law going into effect, the
A. c. M. cut the work week from
10 to 40 hours. This, of course, does
not include all the time a miner
underground. AT present, a
puts in at least 9 hours per
lay, collar-to-collar.
Miners Conditions
With the cut in working days from
to S per week, the A. c. M. also
Continued on Page g.