Archives West Finding Aid

The Butte Teachers' Union (BTU) was established in 1934 as a result of a number of grievances against Butte, Montana, School District No. 1. The Board reduced teachers' pay at a time when no other employees of the school district had received pay cuts. In addition, teachers complained that, lacking a single salary schedule, there were significant inequities between what teachers of equal training and experience might receive. Some teachers charged, too, that to be hired it was necessary to have favorable connections with the management of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. A small group of teachers approached the Silver Bow Trades and Labor Council, which in turn directed the tearchers to the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). The AFT granted the 19 original members of the Butte Teachers' Union their charter as Local No. 332 an May 22, 1934. The BTU's first officers included Ruth McGee, president; Kenneth Julson, vice president; Catherine Thomas, secretary; and Marie Leary, treasurer. By June 1936 the Union had 212 members. In its first negotiated contract with Butte School District No. 1, the teachers won the first single salary schedule in Montana, but following the school board election, the new board immediately rescinded the salary schedule. Arguing that the board's action constituted an act of bad faith, the BTU turned again to the Trades and Labor Council, which instituted an economic boycott against the businesses of those board members who had voted to eliminate the schedule. Within two weeks the teachers had won reinstatement of the schedule. The BTU worked to establish a statewide retirement system for teachers to replace the ineffective system introduced in 1915. Working in coalition with the Montana Federation of Labor, the BTU successfully lobbied for passage of H.B. 94 during the 25th Montana Legislative Assembly (1937). The bill setting up the Montana Teachers Retirement System went into effect on September 1, 1937.