Hungry Horse news., 1954-06-11
Union Challenges Plum Creek

Lumber and sawmill worker.
local union 1929 organized this
spring in Columbia Falls, and the
Montana District Council of Lum-
Der and Sawmin Workers, Kalis-
pel, June 8 filed charges with
the National Labor Relations
Board of unfair labor practices
against Plum Creek Lumber Co.
Presented by Robert c. Weller
business representative for the I'M
ions, the charges are: "On or about
May 10, 1854, the Employer dis
criminated against certain of its
employees in regard to hire and
tenure of employment and terms
and conditions of employment as
follows:
THE CHARGES
discharged and/or refused to
reinstate to employment Ole L.
Carlson, Clifford Wolvington, Elm
ar Mohn and Milton H. Keck for
their activities on behalf of charg-
ing Union.
"On or about May 10, 1854, the
Employer denoted, and reduced
the rate of pay of James R. Binns
for activities on behalf of charg-
ing Union.
"On or about March 25, 1854
and at various times thereafter, the
EMPLOYER through its officers, ag-
ents, and supervisors, has inter-
fered with, restrained and coerceo
EMPLOYEES in the exercise of rights
guaranteed them by Section OF
the National Labor Relations)
Act. by threatening discrimination
against employees for activities or
behalf of charging Union"
HEARING COMING
Next step will be hearing be-
fore Howard Hilburn, field exam
iner for the National Labor Rela-
tions Board expected late this
month.
Weller's statement is that the al
legged discharges occurred lmmed-
lately following newspaper stories
reporting the installation OF char
ter for Local 1929 in Columbis
Falls and listing officers.
The new local seeks to be the
bargaining officer in wage nego-
tiations with Rocky Mountain, Su-
perior Buildings and Plum Creek
Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. has
had a contract with the sawmil
workers. In an election about three
years ago, employees at Superior
buildings Co. voted against hav-
ing the sawmin workers union re-
present them by a 20 to 4 vote.
MAY ELECTION
The May 8 election in Columbia
Falls saw the following slate OF
Officers for the newly constituted
local elected: James R. Binns, pres
ident: Marvin E. (Pete) Darling,
vice president; Robert H. Reid
recording secretary; Einar Mohn,
financial secretary-treasurer; and
trustees: Ole Carlson, three years;
Cliff Wolvington, two years;
George I. Keck, Sr., one year.
A check of records at Plum
Creek shows that about dozen
men were laid off at the mill Ap-
ril II when the sawmill shut down
temporarily for lack of logs.
THE LAYoFFs
01z Ta,.1cnY4 and
Cliff Wolvington were among
those laid off April II. Einar Mohn
was laid off at the close Of work
Nav 8. That evening he was ell
ected an officer of the sawmill
local.
James Binns has "setter" job at
Plum Creek. The report is that
while Frank Yerkes, regular saw
yer. was home, i'll, Binns tempor-
arily served in this capacity.
Keck. Mohn, Carlson and VOL
vington first started to work at
plum Creek in the 1850 to 1852
neriod. However Plum Creek
points out that in the relatively
small lay-offs each spring, men
Of like seniority have been given
slips.
Plum Creek is literally ''theI
plum for the sawmill workers.
The mill established in Columbia
Falls in 1945-46 by D. c. Dunham
Of D. c. Dunham Lumber Co. (and
box plant) Bemidji, Mimi, has
become the "mainstay' industry Of
Columbia Falls.
Plum Creek payrolls are now
$4,000 a month not counting
roo s crews with 1l0 men en-