The people's voice., 1957-11-01
Teacher Replies To MEA
Charges In Butte Fight
Mr.. Harry Billings, Editor
THE PEOPLES VOICE

J. III EOI LIZ - FOIOE
Helena, Montana
Dear Mr.. Billings:
Two letters which appeared in THE
PEOPLES VOICE about the lawsuit
instituted by eight anti-union teach
ers (all are ex-members of the Butte
Teachers Union) against the Butte
School Board and the Butte Teachers
Union have impelled me to write this
letter. AS a member of the Butte
Teachers Union for nineteen years,
| find that the facts reported in the
letter by the Butte Citizen present a
fair and accurate picture of the situa-
ton. The letter of D. d. Cooper, ex-
ecutive secretary of the MEA, which
purports to expose the "false facts"
in the first letter is in itself quite
inaccurate.
L. Mr.. Cooper states, "The contro-
versy began in the spring of 1856
not 1856" The fact: The lawsuit
was instituted in the courts in Novem-
ber, 1856, Immediately after the Gen
eral Election.
2. Mr.. Cooper states, "The plant
ifs do not contend that the salary
schedule adopted by the Butte School
Board is illegal-only the union shop
clause contained in the teachers con-
tract and the salary discrimination
are the basis for the controversy"
This is amazing. The lawsuit (It is
beyond the controversy stage) is a
union-breaking action. AS the writer
eight anti-union teachers left the
Butte Teachers Union of their own
volition; they are not locked out.
Further they have never paid the or
ganization the courtesy of an ex-
PLANTATION for letting their dues lapse
and for initiating action which, if
successful, would be union-wrecking.
All they have to do to secure the
same salaries as other Butte teachers
is to re-instate themselves in the un-
ion.
Mr.. Cooper's great crusade against
10O%o union membership in Butte is
ironically amusing when one reviews
the tactics used by the MEA in drives
for membership. Any teacher who
has taught in the various towns of
Montana knows that for years school
administrators have been able to de-
liver their faculties on practically
1907 basis to the MEA through ad-
ministrative persuasion. 1t is true that
this action was not attained by a
written agreement. That was not
necessary. There are subtle and oral
ways by which superintendent can
secure his will with his staff men,
bers. The Butte union shop clause
was democratically secured by the
majority will of the membership and
it was forthrightly put into writing.
The tyranny of a small minority with
support outside the groups involved
in very un-American. Why should
eight anti-union teachers wreck a
contract which the overwhelming ma
jority of a staff of approximately
three hundred support?
3. Mr.. Cooper states, "The state |
ment that this case jeopardizes union
aus lOl ldDOI 10 ISO |
student of the labor movement would |
agree with Mr.. Cooper. The action
which hurts one union hurts all IN
ions. That includes attacks from the |
outside by the avowed enemies of |
labor and attacks from the inside by
the traitorous, the dishonest, or the
selfish.
The Butte Teachers Union and the
American Federation of Teachers be-
Iieve just as ardently as Mr.. Cooper
that teachers are professional people,
and we further know that the Ameri-
can Federation of Teachers is as pro-
fessional as the National Education
Association. We also believe that peo-
pie of great skill, intelligence, and
are in the labor movement.
We feel no snobbish superiority to
anyone who makes his living by rend-
ering honest service to society.
night point out that musicians, actors,
writer's, chemists, air lines pilots, and
,ther professional workers are union
zed within the AFL-CIO.
4. Mr.. Cooper states, "The state
nent that teachers in Helena are
forced TO retire at ape 65 is lust an