Montana labor news., 1948-08-26
employees
REPORT VICTORY
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ANA3 V1UA 8V1VAN
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occupied many union members for the
next three days.
With the full backing Of the Inter-
national union. the Kalispell Central
Trades and Labor council and the Kali
spell Building and Construction Trades
council, local 603 accepted the chal-
llenge of the lockout which started with
out any advance notice. Funds were
raised. in addition to money received
from the International Union. to assist
needy members and a special union
meeting voted that no members were
TO return to work except for employers
that signed the agreement. The union
prepared to picket the first restaurant
that endeavored to operate with "scabs."
Some employers carried on a smear
campaign against union leaders. created
disturbances at union headquarters and
one ever tried t Crash the union
meeting. demanding. in a drunken man
ner. to be allowed to state his views.
Various forms Of solicitation and pres
sure were used in efforts to persuade
union members to return to work and
reported plans to reopen on Friday,
Aug. 6, were postponed. All indications
we're that the apparent plan of the m
~ployers to destroy the morale Of the
union members was a fizzlc.
The union made a public statement
Of its position by radio, newspaper and
handbills on Thursday, Aug. S. The
statement said in part that "this is not
to be construed as refusal by the union
to consider any suggestions that may
be made by anyone to settle the dis
|pute."
The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
approached the union and the employers
association, suggesting arbitration Of
the dispute by a nine member board,
four from labor (other than restaurant
workers., four from management (other
than restaurant owners) and an impair
tial chairman. At meetings called for
the purpose, the membership Of the
contesting groups agreed to the sug-
e%cstion. the union by secret ballot vote,
thereby relinquishing a very powerful
position to place its case before the
suggested board. 1t was felt by union
officers that the list of employers sig
natory to the agreement, which by that
time had grown to nine in Kalispell and
five outside Of the city. would have
been materially added to within "a
hours. as the pressure of competition
and various avenues Of support for the
union were increased and that very
little, if any picketing would have been
necessary to win a complete victory.
However, taking the long range view,
il was felt that the labor-management
board was worth a try as the union
felt the justice OF its attitude would be
apparent to fair-minded citizens. Ac-
ceptance Of the plan was jointly and
publicly announced by the union and
the association and all restaurants
opened up for business as rapidly as
possible, pending action by the board.
A stipulation Of specific points at
issue was signed by the restaurant as
ISOLATION and the union and arguments
were heard Tuesday evening, Aug. 10,
by the board, selected by the Chamber
Of Commerce board Of directors. Labor
members were Robert Harris. Carpen-
ter: Robert Weller, Sawmill Worker:
Jack Hale, Plasterer, and Charles
knick, Operating Engineer. Employer
members were Marion Smith. ]. c. Pen
ney company, manager; Charles Keim.
Accountant; Hans Mebust, Banker. and
George Chaffee, Wholesale Grocer. Ad-
rian Adams, retired u. s. Forest Serv-
ice official presided as chairman.
The decision of the board was an
nounced at noon, Aug. II, as follows:
The Labor-Management board met on
the evening Of Aug. 10. 1913 at the re-
quest Of the Kalispell Chamber of Com
merce, to mediate the dispute between
the local 603, Hotel and Restaurant En-
ployes local 603. Hotel and Restaurant
Employees union, and the Flathead Res
taurant association.
Upon the written statement BY both
parties that they would abide by the
decision Of the Labor Management
board and after considering and dis
cussing all Of the evidence presented
by both parties at this meeting, the
board came to the following decisions
the five points in dispute as follows
!. WAGE SCALE. That the pro-
posed wage scale asked by the union be
approved by the F1athead Restaurant
association.
2. TINE AND ONE HALF HOLI-
DAYS. That the following be recog-
as holidays and that time and
enc half be paid on those days for
work.
l.. July 18th.
2. Labor day.
3. Thanksgiving day.
a. Christmas day.
5. That option be given to each en-
and his employees as to selection
Of the fifth holiday, between Memorial
day and any other holiday.
3. RETROACTIVE PAY IN
.REASES TO JULY l, 1913. That
increases called for in new union
agreement be retroactive to July /. 1913.
4. PAY FOR TIME LOST DUR
ING LOCKOUT. That the unions re-
quest for pay during period Of lockout
be not granted, and that the Labor
NJ aOaUemenf committee rooe n i, .oroxJ