Lassen Butcher Shops Closed in Wage Dispute
September 22, 1950
A wage dispute closed all butcher shops in Susanville Monday with the exception of three operated by individual owners who do their own meat cutting. Negotiations are now under way.
Sam McNeese, secretary of Butchers’ Local 352 of Redding is representing union members. He said that no strike had been called and disclosed that a contract, which expired in July, has been under negotiations since that time. Meetings being held here this week are a final effort to reach an agreement, he said.
T. C. Hartung from Reno is representing the shops through the California Association of Employers.
Hartung stated the union members were asking a $10 weekly raise. He said that employers had met them half way by offering a $5.00 raise retroactive to September 1. He claimed this raise would make local butchers’ pay compare with the rate offered in Redding and Chico areas.
McNeese claimed that local butchers have had no raise in two and a half years. He said that after several meeting held Monday a slight increase had been offered, but that it did not approach like pay in other areas, and was not enough to compensate increase in the cost of living.
He said that local butchers are receiving the lowest pay of any unionized town in California. They are working more hours but with a lower hourly rate, he asserted.
Butchers shops which are closed have meat under refrigeration so that no loss will result. McNeese said they would appreciated the public’s indulgence for the next few days until an agreement could be reached.
Hartung said the local was also requesting that packaged products such as frozen foods be required to be sold through the meat departments.
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