Hungry Horse news., 1954-06-11
Violence
Could Delay End
Of Plant Strike


The Flathead hoping for a peace
full settlement of the ten-week ole
strike that stopped construction Of
the $50,0O0,000 Anaconda Alumi-
mum Co., plant was concerned
Thursday at prospect of labor vio-
lence.
Tuesday morning saw seven
pipefitters cross picket lines al
the plant to return to work. Nc
effort was made to stop them, and
the development was well publi-
cized in an attempt to break the
strike.
Tuesday afternoon busin s S
agents of the six building trades
unions broadcast word to their
members not to cross picket lines.
They didn't.
Wednesday morning with pick
cts reinforced by business agents,
there was no attempt to return to
work by the pipefitters or anybody
else. This was the, same situation
Thursday morning.
George H. Gohn, business repre-
sentative for the plumbers and
pipefitters, Thursday ornin G
made statement that there would
be a back to work movement Fri
day morning.
Gohn Thursday afternoon said
that the seven pipefitters would re-
turn to work Friday morning. They
are Foley employees. If the pickets
actually blocked the road that was
a matter for the law. Gohn felt
that the situation affecting his men
was not going to be solved by Nc
Neil union negotiations. The
steamfitters work for Foley, he
said.
In truce, no attempt was made
to send the men back Wednesday
or Thursday.
Gohn is backed by a telegram
from Martin P. Durkin, president
of the United Association of
Plumbers and Pipefitters, that
states: Following wire sent this
day to Mr.. Robert E. Harris, rep
resentative Northwestern Montana
District Council sof Carpenters
Unions, Strand Theatre building,
Kalispell.
"Reurtel Business Agent Gohn
of Local 684, Kalispell, was in
structed to respect picket line An
aconda Aluminium plant in event
non-union labor was used. 1t is
not the policy of the United Asso-
citation to establish picket lines
which embarrass other crafts in
order to enforce wage demands"
There were dozen or so pipe
filters employed at the plant last
spring, and they had obtained a
wage increase.
Gohn had resigned on request as
president of the KaliSpell Building
Trades council June 8. His stand
of getting back to work, and then
negotiating wage increase, and
also wiring AF of L headquarters
in Washington, D. c., that the
strike and especially picket linel
was illegal displeased other labor
groups.
Tuesday evening, Charles Byers,
business agent for the Kalispell |
local of the International Brother
hood of Electrical Workers was
named council president. Byers |
election was by acclamation.
Last Friday the laborers and hod-
carriers local replaced Don Barge
as business agent by a 46 to "a
vote picking Eugene johnson.
There were 270 eligible to vote.
No particular association with the
strike was apparent in this vote.
There is reason to believe that
the strike will not be ended by
oack-t work movements by a
small group such as the pipefit-
ters. While there was talk of
mass movement back to work, the.
six striking unions seem to be in
stronger position than before.
There is some reason to believe
hat the six-day week proposal
once rejected should have been let
lie, and that going through picket
ines, even if illegal, will not end
he strike.
Flathead tenpers will flare gen
orally if business agents block traf-
tic and start strong arming at the
Anaconda gate. 1t is hoped that all
sides continue to exercise control.
Position of AAC and the sew
eral contractors is that there has
been no lockout, and that with
1rawal by the unions and their
memberships created the shut
lown. This is an obvious situation.
MR.