Montana labor news., 1948-07-01

0ONh' ~
A 10 cents per hour raise over the
present wage scale with no retrOac-
tivity of any kind, with certain cOndi-
tons attached which make it impos-
sible for the committee to consider
and who rejected this offer without
reservations. The company broke off
negotiations at this point by stating
there were no further concessions to
be made. and this their final offer to
the unions. Knowing that such an
offer presented to the unions would
certainly precipitate a strike, the ne
gOtiating committee In an endeavOr to
settle these negotiations peacefully,
the us. Cancellation commissioner
was contacted and a further meeting
was requested with the company to
submit a counter proposal. The count
er proposal submitted by the commit
tee was the full minimum that could
be recommended to the unions.
These counter proposals were as
follows:
No. IA wage increase of IL cents
per hour over the present hourly wage
scale.
No. 2-One additional holiday be
added to the present contract. which
makes six holidays instead Of five.
No. 3-Continuance of the agree
ment through June 80, 1850 with a
wage reopening clause on June 30.
1919.
No. 4-Vacation qualifying and per-
iod Of taking vacations based on the
present contract which is from April
! to April of each year.
No. 5-An agreement that our union
shop clause will he protected even
under the provisions Of the Taft-Hart-
ley Act.
No. 6-An agreement that the com
pany meet with the union committees
and an attempt be made to eliminate
the inequalities, i~nequities and dis
elimination in regard to the admins
tration of the equal work week.
No. An agreement with the COM
pany that meetings will be held with
the unions to eliminate certain con
ditions in the vacation and holiday
clause that creates grievances and
MISUNDERSTANDING in the present
contract.
The above counter proposals as sub
mitted by the unions negotiating com
mittee was agreed to by the company
il ratified by the unions by referend-
am vote. In making these proposals
the Joint negotiating committee took
into consideration the following facts
The gaining OF the IL cents per
hour is a definite victory for the un-
ion. it equals and In most cases betters
the gains Of other unions in any part
OF the country so far, it breaks down
tho determined position Of the COM
pany that any raise for the workers in
Montana was out of the question. 1t
follows the lead taken by our sister
unions working in the brass industry
and the other mining and smelling dis
porations. 1t is better than those ar
rived at by other unions throughout
the country. In view of the fact that
no increase was granted to such large
organizations as steel. the gaining Of
this increase can only be considered
as a victory by the workers in Mine
Mill in Montana.
Your committee recognizes the fact
that no retroactive pay is part of this
recommendation. but taking into con
sideration the ACM Company's refus-
al to grant wage increases three
months prior to settlements made by
the company in their other holdings,
the negotiating committee honestly
felt that drastic action. such as strike
would be a futile action to try and
force this gain, which amounts to ap
proXimately some $4,000 or less to
members Of the union covered by this
retroactivity. The committee there.
fore proposed IN added paid holiday
to help compensate the sacrifice OF
this point in the demands which again
is a definite gain for this and all fut-
ure contracts.
In the proposal for a two-year con
tract with a wage r%eopening clause
after n year., the following bene.
fits were considered by the commit,
tee. This action places all unions In
the ACM holdings with a common ex,
piration~ date. 1t eliminates the pos.
sibility of the situations we are now