Montana labor news., 1946-01-31
News o. ~ver Bow
Trades ( labor Council

III what might De tcTHlSu d tuIuu'VHt
session of the Trades Council last
Tuesday evening, the topic OF closer
cooperation between the unions, indus
try and the veterans was thoroughly
aired. There was literally a deluge Of
comment by each delegate represent
ing his union as to what that union had
done or had not done for the veterans.
Not only that, but the a. c. NJ. came
in for its share of censure and praise.
1t was alleged by some OF the dele
gates that veterans applying for work
we're indirectly approached with the
proposition Of working behind the
fences. This statement was immedi-
ately challenged, however, and denied.
The whole subject was dropped on the
floor through a talk by Frank McCar-
thy, representing the veterans advis-
DRY council. Mr.. Mccarthy gave an
illustration where it was alleged a GER
tain union had taken a veteran of a
job. Immediately after Mr.. Mccarthy
had finished his talk the whole pano-
rama OF union relationships between
the veterans. industry and their own
constitutions was unccrcmonutsly tossed
on the floor. .Npprcnticcships i'll the
crafts, age limits of apprentices. sen
iority, super seniority. llhcralillng by
laws. constitutions. aud duties to the
veterans filled the air. The engineers.
butchers. machinists. bus drivers, clerks
and others explained what their rcspcc-
Tive unions had done toward giving
preferences 10 returning veterans. a.
warning note was sounded by some OF
the union delegates about employers,
especially large corporations like the
a. {. NJ. utilizing the urgency Of plac-
ING returning veterans in jobs as a
means Of getting rid OF some undcsir-
able employees and other employees who
they considered not as efficient as some
OF the younger veterans. This phase vi
the discussion was disclosed under the
topic OF super seniority, an cuphoni-
Gus term for discrimination.
Oscar Hill, vice president OF the
Trades Council. and a delegate from the
miners, gave an instance of where the
local draft board is in a position to give
assistance to returning veterans under
a directive issued IN connection with the
selcctivc service act. From Mr.. Hills
talk, it was evident that neither the en-
p%loycrs nor the veterans are sufficiently
acquainted with the provisions OF the
sclcctive service act as il relates TO
duties Of employers toward veterans
who were former employees.
In the midst OF all this, a resolution
was submitted to the secretary by one
Of the miners delegates which. in effect,
called upon affiliated unions to display
a little more libcrali,y toward veterans
and II necessary soften some OF the pre-
valling local bylaws 50 that boys re-
turning home to Butte wouldn't be com
pcllcd 10 travel To foreign parts to make
a living alter they had fought and pre-
served our alleged democracy. 1t was
apparent to everyone that the Trades
N'bhtI NhS ~ ldN'l ~ tfN slillt ana
substance OF the resolution, but some
Of the language didn't seem 10 lit the
functions III the Trade Council hence.
Chairman Crawford. on a motion. ap-
pointed a committee To meet with the
delegate who introduced the rcsolu-
ton to rcvanlp the whole document.
There is no question abou; the need
OF the labor unions, employers and re-
turning veterans getting together and
having a fuller and more comprchcn-
sivc understanding OF each others rights
and duties. Nevertheless. as was
brought out in the discussion. an en-
ployc Tor instance who had served 10
or IS years or more and had rendered
his services toward the war effort was
entitled to some consideration, notwith-
standing the demands oi the return
veteran.
Ripper, president ii the clerks and
delegate To the Trades Council and also
a member OF the veterans advisory
council. causticallv flaycd the unions
for apparent indifference TO obligations
due returning soldiers and warned that
these boys were not going to submit
in silence to an economy and a political
sctup which fails to provide them and
their families with a livelihood after
they offered their services and their