Montana labor news., 1948-09-23
Transit Workers Win
Wage Increase,
Better Conditions
Democratic Governor Pledges
Repeal of Anti Union Law

Forced into compulsory arbitration BY
| Indiana, governor under an %auti-unipil
law Which labor i, fighting a, uieon
! stitutlunal. the \ II. q, transit
workers union nevertheless emerged
| with 4 ninc per cent raise and improved
| working conditions III IFS contract with
the indianapolis Railways. lnc.
Despite the victory, attributed by
| union officials lo the alright case
pressed by the labor bureau oi mlddl,
west. the .Amaleama,cd N>>nciation 81
| street. Electric RAILWAY and Motor
| Coach I.mplu>cs ii America will con.
I,innc it, tight 10 OUTLAW the arbitration
statue, enacted 10 lvlT
Repeal 81 the anti union measure l.
pledged bs the Democratic candidate Loi
governor III the current election cam
paisn.
Opposition to the act i based on IL
injection 81 governmental turcc INTO III
du,trlal relations. q David Iimrine
director 81 the labor bureau and genera
eounscl Tor the ~Nmaleamatcd, declared
For over 4 hall century. he pointc'
ont. the A~malganla,cd has been a pro
"pnncni ii voluntary arbitration 70 scttl
all issues unre>ohe ed over the confer
lcncc table.
In indianapolis itself. the anne CON
pany and division lu70 OF the Arnalga
mated have enjoyed peaceful vr'atio'
{ since 1880 with each contract prpsidir
: Tor arbitration
How a compulsory arbitration IA
corrupt, industrial peace, makes
moekcry d collective bargaining Al
defeats the Law, alleged purpose, i i
5 Illustrated bs the indianapolis case
The l9l7 -lS contract expired May
Exactly three weeks later the new stat
law vas invoked before genuine collct
{ tive Bargaining. the hlcrican way sha
4 chance d developing the outline 81
new agreement. much less erip' int
dispute, demanding the entry Of outsil
force III What n regarded by intclligcl
management u well AZ hy labor. a. 4
unwarrantcl exercise ri state power.
The arbitration award, retroactive I
MAY |. represents a s5tU.tEO gam 10
the 500 members u division 100. In
nlnc per cent raise increases operator
from $3.50 to 81 u cents an hour. \
increase 81 from one 10 Tour cents a
hour. in addition 10 the nine per cen
Was ordered ipr certain special classl
%iications.
Another MAJOR gam i, a rcnodelel
paid vacation schedule Immediately ben
~ciitting almost hall the working lore,
Previously limited 10 six DAYS yacatio
Tor one wear ol service and l. DAYS 10
, years. the unlonists nuN also will re
ceiye IL day, after : years and T. day
after IS years.
The award also direct, the entapan
to furnish Tree eoverall- Il the 500 .fpl
garage and Inspection department en-
ploycs.
Extra operator, arc guaranteed )
t hour, work Or equivalent pay. " guar
antce existed previously.
The management Share u the cost 9
the existing health Insurance and he,
pitallzation plan was raised from -
. man i month 70 S52S
THE company plea lor paytncn, 4
Overtime rate, "a begin alter y hour
instead Il 10, vas denied a, va, II
%union', demand ior installation q
siyklcatc plan.
Judge William p. IsndieOtt. 81 Auburl
i Ind. wa> chairman 81 the arhitratio
board which included Joseph X Bare
. la,. ii Muucic, co-ordlnator III yoca
tianal training and Or. John \. va
! Sickle. 1T Charlottesville The union
ease vas presented by Lester Plotkii
oi the labor bureau. Actisc as advisor
Representatives on the board were Dayi
NJ. Lewis. indianapolis attorney. Tor tt
union and Vice President Iame>P. Ire
ton for the company.