Hungry Horse news., 1954-03-26
Cal Plant Strike for April 5

Construction payrOllS tnat are
bringing the Flathead valley an
improved economy are to halt
April 5.
The Northwestern Montana Dis
trict Council of Carpenters unable
to get any wage increase during
the past weeks of negotiations has
called the strike. 1t affects all con-
struction, not only the AAC plant.
SANCTIONED BY UNIONS
Their action is sanctioned by the
Kalispell Building Trades Council,
according to Robert Harris, car
penters business agent.
Text of the letter to all contrac-
tors is printed in full at the bot
tom of this story.
The carpenters contract expired
March l, the iron workers contract,
Feb. 5, and on May l, the opera
tors, teamsters, electricians and
possibly cement finisherS wage
contracts in the area are due to
expire.
SEEK is CENT RAISE
The letter to contractors advis-
ing "the economic action to enforce
these wage demands for Is cents
per hour increase" resulted from
Thursday conference in Kalispell
between Flathead labor leaders
and international representatives
of carpenters and cement finish
ers with a teamster representative
from Anaconda. All crafts were
represented at the meeting except
bricklayers, Harris reported.
Pattern of strike development
was the unions seeking 25 cents
an hour wage increases, later re-
duced to is cents. Present wages
include carpenters, $3.50 an hour;
iron worker rodmen, $2.58 an hour;
riggers, $2.73; 1aborers, $1.85, truck
drivers from $1.88 an hour up.
Walk-offs may start before APP
ril 5.
NEARLY LOO MEN WORKING
Meanwhile this week saw en-
ployment at the plant continue
near LOO with payrolls over
plOU,OOO q WSSh.
j. A. Mcneil Co., Inc, excava-
tions and foundations contractor
had 610 on the payroll Thursday, |
up just one from week ago. A to-
tai of 467 Mcneil men worked six
days last week. Mcneil subcon-
tractors employ an additional 46.
Foley Constructors, the general
contractor, has 266 men working
and Donovan Construction Co., ell
ectrical subcontractors, 30.
American Bridge division of U.
S. Steel Corp. crew increased from
40 to 81 men. AAC field force and
other contractors brings the total
employment to near l, 100 compar-
ed to a peak of 700 reached last
fall.
CONCRETE HALF PLACED
Daily concrete production place
ment figures have increased to 325
cubic yards with somewhat over
half the 10000 cubic yards in the
plant placed. Structural steel erec-
ton is considered is per cent COM
plete with about $4,000 tons to go
up in all.
Charles Hoffman, general line
foreman; Earl Cole, project man
ager, and c. D. Casey, all of Cas-
ey Electric, Seattle, arrived this
week preparing to start the major
electrical contract for all install
alton between the transmission
lines at the edge of the plant and
the potlines. Having this contract
are Fischbach and Moore, New
York City, Casey Electric, Seattle
and Columbia Falls, and Brown
Johnston, Spokane. More than so
are to be employed.
Results of March II labor and
contractor meeting brought agree
ment that union representatives
would: Gin order to minimize any
losses due to strike action have
agreed with management repre-
sentatives to a ten day notice be-
fore strike action is taken" The
notice came Thursday just after
4 p. m.
Representing upper Flathead
businessmen, L. P. Tonner, Mar
tin City; Chet Seymer and Bob
Moody, Columbia Falls met with
Bob Harris, business agent for the
carpenters, last Monday to see if
there wasn't a way to avoid a
strike. The committee was chosen
at a businessmen's meeting IN
Columbia Falls Saturday.
Labor points out the Yerington,