The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1961-09-15

The rules and regulations for the
guards are formed by the Warden
and are posted. The working condi-
tons imposed by Powell are COM
pensated at the rate of $275 to $685.
per month plus $50 at the commits
sary.
Contracts with the craft unions
employed at the prison have been
successfully worked out with the
Warden to include very satisfactory
security clauses.
Kermit Daniels, who lead the DEM
ocratic minority in the House last
session of the Legislature, represent
ed the independent union. Daniels
wrung the concession from the Exam
liners that the guards did have the
right to organize to better their work.
ing conditions. He commended that it
was merely moot semantics which
separated the Warden's idea of an
association with an agreement and
the guards proposal of a union with
a contract.
The main value of a union at the
prison would be to avoid conditions
of abject servitude as a prerequisite
of employment. The turnover rate
of guards is so high that it is danger
to the security of the prison. With
a written contract there would be
some hope of bettering conditions
and more stable persons would seek
that type of occupation.
At any rate whether it is an asso-
citation or union of guards they must
have someone to lobby for their in
terest at the next legislature. The
gripes and grievances could be ham
died by someone other than the semi
officers of the Prison and
resultant upswing in the morale of
the guards would be a compensation
more than wages received for very
work.
There is no reason why the rights
of citizenship should be relinguished
because of being employed to guard
the inmates of the prison.
Funds are now being voted upon
in Congress to supply each state pris-
on with an attorney to make sure
that the persons incarcerated are
there in accordance with law. This
IS viewed by some as an infringement
Of states rights. With federally-
paid attorney on the prison grounds
the guards might be able to become
under the proper name
and form to do business with their
smployers-the people of Montana.
Local 1860 of the State, County
and Municipal Employees Union had
1 bit of business to clear up with
Larry Hoffman and the Warden. In
December 1859 an opening appeared
n the mail section superintendent
position in Hoffman's license plate
factory office. Hoffman filled the
position with Edna jennings when
Sarah Drinville had more seniority.
In March 1858 contract was
igned with the union agreeing that
obs will be filled by posting and
the examinations and qualifications
ire the same seniority would be the
'uiding principle.
A complaint was forwarded to the
Board of Examiners by the union of
Ioffman's abuse of the contract.
The Examiners told Hoffman to
'ost the job which he did and then
lie disqualified Sarah Drinville be-
ause she did not present her quail
ications which are supposed to be in
Ioffman's personnel records.
Al Dougherty, attorney for the
Inion, had repeatedly tried to get
Hoffman to negotiate this breach of
ontract, unsuccessfully
The Examiners saw this was bum
bake and ordered the petition va
ated as of December 1859 and a
ew posting of the job to be tackled
p on the bulletin board.
Hoffman was ordered to get his
ersonnel file in order so that it
rould be possible for him to live up
D the contract.
Betty Forgey, president of the
MON, also had the Examiners in
truct Hoffman to consult with the
MON as to the qualifications of per-
ons seeking advancement in the Ii
ense plate office. The numbers rack
formerly operated by Hoffman has
cen smashed by the union contract