The Wrangell sentinel., 1950-03-24
COUNCIL MEETING

lealled Tor by the International Bro therhoOd of Electrical Workers. MT. lDeyenny informed the Council that to increase the wages of the plant operators to S33O.00 for a 40-hour week, which would necessitate the hiring of one extra man, the addi- tiOnal cost to the light plant would be s5,150.00 plus approximately $4O0.00 for vacation pay. This would mean an added cost of $5,550.00 to the light plant per year without taking into consider ation the overtime paid on holi- days.
 MT. Patterson, when asked for his estimated cost explained that he did not go into it very thorough ly, but found the extra expense to be around $5,10O.OO or little over with vacations not taken care of in the estimate.
 A general discussion followed in which the Council examined the fi- nancial statement for the fiscal year beginning April 1st, 1948, and ending March 31st, 1949, and found that after all obligations had been paid, approximately $1,00O.00 was left From this study the Coun- cil came to the unanimous opinion that to make Mir. Pattersons pro- prosal feasible, an increase of at least 15 per cent on the light rates would be necessary. Then if the users of electricity decided to cut their consumption due to the in crease ill rates, the b per cent increase would be insufficient
 It was also brought out that no depreciation is given yearly on the light plant building and machin- cry, which should be taken into Consideration.
 The main concern of the Coun- ci was whether or not the light consumers would agree to the 15 per cent increase in rates. It was brought up that most consumers would cut consumption to a bare minimum if the rates were increas- ed, since the public has been ask i ing for a light rate decrease. This being the case, the 15 per cent in- crease would be insufficient
 It was brought out very strongly by each and every Councilman that they were definitely not anti-union as most had at one or more times belonged to unions or had dealt with unions in their line of busi- ness. and the main question was the feasibility of the proposal from financial point of view.
 After further discussing the mat ter and again pointing out the inn possibility of instituting a 40-houI week without raising the rates and whether or not the public would consent to a Is per cent or more in erease in light rates, a motion was made by Councilman Vern Smith. seconded by Councilman Let Ellis that the Town of Wrangell refuse to recognize the Information iaI Brotherhood of Electrical Work CTS as bargaining agent for the men at the Light Plant and a poll ed vote was taken as follows: Councilman H. R. Coulter "aye, Councilman George Smith faye, Councilman Vern Smith "aye, '' Councilman Lee Ellis aye" Coun, cilman L. A. Engstrom aye" and the motion carried.
 MT. Patterson requested tho Council to consider signing a Con. sent" election form for a National Labor Relations Board election a the Light Plant. He explained tha
 there could be an election by tho
 N. L. R. B. with or without tho consent of the employer, but tha he would like to know whether ht would have to send in the Con 1 sent" or "Non-consent" form. A motion was made by Council
 man George Smith, seconded b. l Councilman Lee Ellis that E.r Pat |, terson's request be taken into cor 5 sideration at the next regula 9 meeting of the Council and the mo ) tion carried.
 Mayor Mccormack informed tn 1. Council that Mr. Erickson, Eng f neer working on the sewer an