Hungry Horse news., 1955-04-15
Strikes Sell Newspapers

Strikes Sell Newspapers
Just little over year ago the Flathead knew
the heartache Of strike as construction OF the
Anaconda Aluminium Co. plant came to an abrupt
halt. 1t was an unfortunate development and many
of us realize how easily that strike could have
been avoided
This week saw the Kalispell daily its larg-
est headline to proclaim "AF of L Unions to Or
ganize AAC"
Making use of that bold, sensational banner,
Columbia Falls then had free banketng OF extra
dailies on doorsteps the community Obviously
people would read that '"To Organize AAC' story.
To further the Columbia Falls appeal, three
column u. S. Army free release picture of Column
bia Falls Major Jim Cumming taking refresher
course at Fort Benning placed next to the labor
story at the top of page We don't recall that
Kalispen private corporal or up through colonel
had rated quite as well. Anyway the privates al
ways seem to go an inside page There are more
of them.
We expect the newspaper sales in the Flathead
will increase these weeks especially if labor strife
develops in organization of the AAC plant
Then we wonder why the Kalispell daily in
these past weeks didn't briefly report the first hour
ly employees going to work at the plant, and that
phase of finally getting operations hourly employees
on the payroll. That's constructive information too
but likely dull reading.
The Hungry Horse News frankly is timid at the
prospect of any major labor difficulties in the Flat
ago, and how much it cost this town and valley.
The contrast of how Flathead papers including
us handled the strike and the manner in which the
Great Falls Tribune treated that citys shutdown
was tremendous. We talked to Tribune editors on
the question: and their reasoning is that strike or
prospect of any labor difference is bad for the
economy. Play it up and matters become worse
Remember year ago when Flathead court
house employees put off buying new cars, because
there was big strike on at the plant Yet that
strike didn't affect their paycheckS.
incidentally year ago, the Kalispell Building
Trades Council saying most unkind things about
the Flatheads daily. They were going to boycott
it and all that What foolish talk that is This week
these same labor people handed the paper the trial
balloon" to tell of plans to organize the plant NO.
we aren't going to team up with opposition unions
Now we have difference of opinion with the
Kalispell paper, but want to add that we con-
slider them good small city daily Furthermore the
recently arrived publisher has made substantial
improvements.
SO much for comments the Monday and
continuing circulation drive by our friends south
ward and to the story
Kenneth Frazier ironworkers business agent
for some reason hadn't seen the KallspeH story
when we called him Monday evening. Furthermore
he hadn't even known there was going to be story,
though he was listed source. Frazier is presl-
dent of the Metal Trades Council that was formed
last November with the idea of having the AT OF l.
organize the AAC plant.
Other officers in addition to Frazier are Charles
Byers electricians business agent, vice president;
Noel NJ Giles, teamsters' business agent financial
secretary and Richard Hotter of the carpenters,
recording secretary There is also board OF trustees
None of these men particularly familiar
with organizing a plant, while 1t was known that
the AT of L was getting ready for the AAC plant
production phase, there was little activity
There was an April meeting of the four
month old Metal Trades Council, and now April
20 to see formation of actual plans for organizing
the plant In attendance will be regional labor Lead
ers familiar with ways to achieve detectives.
Ultimate is to call the National Labor Relations
Board in for an election in June or July with the
idea of having the AT of certified as the bargain
ing agent for the new Fathead plant. Hope is that
the election will come when the first potline Will
be starting to produce aluminium.
AT of L officials are banking the fact that
the large majority of construction workers In the
Flathead are already AT of L members. Many OF
these men will be making aluminium after con-
Struction jobs end
The international Union of Mine, Mill and
Smelter Workers and perhaps the CLIO metal trades
union may appear ON the scene with the hope OF
getting majority support 1t would cost them quite
q bit of money, and unless the AT OF l. stumble!
completely don't see that the other fellows have
much of a chance There is the handicap OF course
that AT of L leadership in the Flathead is no
particularly familiar with plant operations. They
know construction.
The AT of l. may have made mistake b.
talking now before they were set to CO.
In this day and age, the AAC plant Is mos
likely to have union certified the EXCLUSIVE
bargaining agent rather than be open shop.
The Flathead has come to know its AT OF ]
leaders and members well. Local sentiment !
on their side as opposed to the Mine, MILL ana ClO
whom we do not know.
Actually the Flathead shouldn't have to b
thinking in terms of labor strife just because tn
AAC plant is to be organized
It looks exceedingly calm and peaceful SO let
cell r>~ Wed appree