Montana labor news., 1939-09-14
news OF THE SILVER
BOW TRADES COUNCIL

The meeting of the Trades and
Labor Council last Tuesday evening
was pleased to again receive teach
ers' delegates and obligate them.
The council was again advised
that former Congressman Jerry J..
O'Connell will speak at Miners
Union hall in Butte IN September
IA in relation to a 60-60 pension plan.
Governor Roy E. Ayers mentioned
that he had received a letter from
the Trades and Labor Council and
a resolution attached asking for a
special session of the Legislature
He said he would give the matter
his consideration.
=
Other communications were re
ceived from Mr.. Joseph Parker and
Mn. Mcmillan of the Works Progress
Administration in answer to a COM
plant submitted to them by Silver
Bow Trades and Labor Council con-
corning the deprivation of the serv-
ices of a s%tenographer to take down
the minutes of the meeting of the
planning board. However, Mr. Nc
MILAN in explaining this, said that
the board would be furnished with
the services of a stenographer and
that the council could have the
s%tenographic notes if desired.
Quite a lengthy report was made
of the meeting at Helena last Friday
protesting the inadequacy Of relief
allowances to people on relief.
Charlie Whitley Of the Engineers
expressed the opinion that it was
one of the most important meetings
of its kind held since the relief
crisis had arisen. He mentioned
that it is the duty Of a state to care
for the needy and Notwithstanding
the Legislature failed to make ap-
preparations, means should be pro-
vided to raise the money either
through an action of the Supreme
Court, the State Board of Examiners
or an extra session of the Legisla-
ture. People will not die of starva-
ton without protest. Mr.. Whitley
mentioned that there were about ITO
delegates at the meeting and that
Attorney Phil O'Donnell, represent
ing the union, had asked Mr.. Brand
jord some very pertinent questions
as had also County Attorney Coyle
of Silver Bow county. Mr.. Brand
jord evaded most of these inquiries.
A committee of IS was appointed to
sign a petition for writ of mandate
to the Supreme Court which, if is
sued, would require the State We'll
fare officials, Governor and others
to put in an appearance and show
reason why the people were not be-
ing taken care of.
Mr.. Mason mentioned that DR..
Thorkelson, Notwithstanding charges
of conservatism held against him,
was the first to sign a petition to
force the relief officials to appear
at a public hearing.
Thanks was extended to the
miners auxiliary and particularly to
Sam Mitchell, secretary of state, who
generously provided coffee and
lunches to the assembled delegation.
Mr.. Mason mentioned that the state
of Montana is losing thousands and
thousands of dollars because. it is
not matching federal funds which
would be sent in here if the Legisla-
ture had made the necessary appro-
priation.
The organization committee recon-
mended, in a report, that the new
union of stenographers and office
workers be seated in the council.
The recommendation was adopted
and the delegates ordered seated,
although none of them were present
at the time.
The Electrical Workers announced
that a statewide agreement had been
signed by the Montana Power Com
pany and the Telephone Company
which would later be submitted to
the council for ratification. The
highlight in the contract, according
to the delegates, includes pay for
holidays and vacation with pay for
all employees.
+ 4 y
The BARRIERS Union stated that
names of people who were p%atroniz-