Hungry Horse news., 1954-04-02
Plant Building May Continue
by Mel Ruder

by Mel Ruder
A definite possibility exists that
construction of the Anaconda Alu-
minum Co. plant will not come to
a halt Monday as has been anti
cipated.
| Flathead labor groups are con-
sidering public opinion and the
situation where there is no issue
between some unions and the con-
tractors. Result Monday may be
that only the 240 carpenters will
be called off. This will leave $50
other men working and they
would not have to cross picket
lines.
SEEK rs CENTS
The strike by the carpenters
backed by the Kalispell Building
Trades council is to bring a IS
cent an hour wage increase to
S2.65 an hour. The strike is to
take effect valley wide Monday.
The carpenters agreement with
aluminium plant contractors ex-
pired March /.
Labors' idea is a definite appeal
to public opinion and offer of
compromise. Objective is that the
contractors would lay off men, in
stead of unions taking all the
crews off.
However without carpenters on
the job, major phase Of building
the aluminium plant will halt
gradually in a few days. Objective
of a raise in pay or else no work
continues.
A number of the unions have a
mo strike, but arbitration" clause
in their contracts. These men
would observe a picket line, but
it is probable that they may go to
work Monday at the plant as
usual.
Developments Friday, Saturday
and Sunday will bring forth the
answer of what the unions will do
Monday, when the strike is to
start.
J. A. Mcneil Co. crews at the
plant were trimmed in a week
from a high of 610 to 483 Thurs
day. Cause was curtailment of new
activity pending the strike. A con-
crete pour cannot be left half
completed.
1874 CARPENTERS
The Mcneil crew includes 184
carpenters and 18 carpenter fore
men. Other big group is the 135
laborers.
Mcneil subcontractors include
Glenn Geary on excavation and
backfill with 81, Lovett Plumbing
with 7, Fidelity Electric with 8.
Foley Constructors, the general
contractor, had $50 men on pay
rolls Thursday including % car
penters. It's a small decline from
a week ago. Donovan Construc-
tion, Foley electrical subcontrac-
tors, had 80 men working.
Erecting steel in the potline
buildings, American Bridge crews
from SO to So, and will
go to 70.
Weather caused some problem
at the plant this week, but con-
crete placement in foundations
and floors is running over 800
cubic yards day.
The Fischbach-Moore electrical
was getting underway at
the plant this week with an office
and small warehouse being built.
Earl Cole is superintendent and
Hoffman, line foreman
for this contract that has Casey
Electric and Brown-Johnston as
participating partners.
Minor development this week
was the Wednesday afternoon ses-
sion where contractors and unions
agreed on the men and women
who could cross picket lines, and
he fact that fire and plant safety
precautions should be taken. The
meeting in Kalispell was cordial.
Wage negotiations were not
opic.
The list of names obtained from
Richard Hotter, secretary for the
council of carpenters included
engineers, stenographers, inSpec-
ors, clerks, warehousemen and
just five of the trades.
Anaconda had 72 names, Foley
81, Donovan Con-
truction 4, ]. A. Mcneil %, Bak-
please turn to page ~
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