International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 65
Content Description
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers records (1917) Collection includes three IBEW contracts with three different companies in the Butte area: Montana Power Company; Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway Company; and The Butte Electrica Railway Company (also includes agreement with Local Union 200). Contracts all created in the months following the Anaconda Mining Company Speculatro Mine Disaster, a time of much unrest between labor unions and companies in the Butte area.
Dates
- Creation: 1917
Creator
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (Organization)
- Butte Metal Trades Council (Organization)
Biographical / Historical
Several days after the Speculator disaster (June 8, 1917), miners began to walk off the job at copper mines all over the city in protest of the poor working conditions. A meeting was organized and the Metal Mine Workers' Union, an unaffiliated and independent union, formed less than two weeks after the Speculator Mine fire. The new union immediately petitioned the Anaconda Copper Company and its subsidiaries for recognition of their union, demanding safer working conditions and wage increases. By the end of June, other trade unions, including the Electricians, Boilermakers, Blacksmiths, and Metal Trades Machinists of Butte, joined the miners in their strike. The companies resisted the mining union organizers' efforts and chose to work with the other trade unions, acquiescing to many of their demands in hopes of isolating the miners' union and forcing an end to the strike. By the end of July, most of the other trade unions had reached a deal and returned to work.
Extent
0.1 linear feet
Language of Materials
English
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Montana Historical Society, Research Center Archives Repository
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT 59620-1201 United States
406-444-2681
406-444-2696 (Fax)
mhslibrary@mt.gov