Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-07-20

BY the Executive OMcers OF the
Brotherhood Of TsIegraphers.
Complaiata and Demands Of the Brotl
hood.

IcleBI8pI1cIu, COuCCIulu8 AtC "a
isting between telegraph companies and their
employees. This statement is furnished to
the press in order that the public may not be
deceived by unauthorized statements which
may emanafe from irresponsible parties.
On Monday, July 10th, the executive board
of the brotherhood of telegraphers of the
United States and Canada, presented to the
executive officers of the several commercial
telegraph companies of the United States and
Canada, memorial, placing before the COM
panies the grievances of the operators and
employees generally, and petitioning for the
redress of the came. The companies to
whom the memorial was presented, embrace
the following I'm Canada, The Great North
western and The Mutual Union. In the
United States, The Western Union, Mutual
Union, American Rapid, Baltimore and Ohio
Commercially, New York American District
companies also The Metropolitan Telephone
company of New York, and the Chicago Tel
ephone company of Chicago.
The bills Of grievances are ~ follows
AMERICAN COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
Sec. /. Believing that mans physical and
mental welfare requires that at least one day
in seven be accorded him for rest and recrea-
ton, we ask for the total abolition of Sunday
work as q compulsory duty. unless cOmpen-
sated as extra service.
Sec. 2. That eight hours shall constitute
regular days work, and seven hours Q reg
ular nights work, and that both sexes shall
receive equal pay for equal work.
Sec. 8. That q universal increase of 10
per cent on all salaries paid, shall be petit
toned now for.
CANADIAN COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
The memorial Of the Canadian commercial
telegraph employees is identical with that
presented by the American employees, with
the exception of Section !, which asks for
fixed compensation for Sunday work of forty
cents per hour; Section 8, that salaries now
paid shall be increased according to the fol-
lowing schedule Employees now receiving
sixty. five dollars per month and upward, ten
per cent increase; employees receiving from
forty -five to sixty-five dollars per month,
fifteen per cent increase; employees receiv-
ing thirty to forty-fve dollars per month
twenty per cent increase; and that the lowest
salary paid shall be thirty-ive dollars per
month. This applies to all practical tele-
graphic employees, such as operators, clerks
and lnemen.
The American memorial asks for the line.
men, that eight hours shall constitute days
work that compensation At the rate of two
days pay shall be allowed for all Sunday
work that the lowest salary paid regular
lineman shall be sixty FIVE dollars per month
and for helpers fifty dollars per month, and
that the duties OF linemen shall be confined
solely to their legitimate work.
The American memorial petitions on be-
half of the first-class Wheatstone operators,
that they shall be paid at the rate of seventy
five dollars per month, and for the second
class operators SIXTY dollars per month; that
their working hours shall be the same as the
Morse operators. This completes the several
memorials. {The frst-class Wheatstone
operators are at the present time receiving
but fifty dollars per month, and the second
class operators but thirty dOllars.)
The members of the brotherhood claim
that their organization is the result of the
tyranical and unjust treatment melted out to
them during the past ten years, and that their
demands are not unreasonable, in lew of the
systematic reductions that have been forced
upon them at different times BY the Western
Union Telegraph company, which fixes the
standard Of wages for the United States and
Canada. They give the following sugges-
tive facts in support of their claims Be-
tween the years 1870 and 1874, two general
reductions took place throughout the coun-
try, amounting to about twenty Ave per cent
~" ACsf W ACbb, lVCAl BORcIIUtc0ueUL8
and managers, in order TO curry favor with
the company, WED with each other in econo-
mic suggestions. In 1878, the executive
this process, became holder, and announced
the famous Cor infamous) sliding scale or
general reduction of from Eve to twenty five
per cent on all employees. This instrument
had the quality of sliding but one way (down-
ward and was followed BY many contempt
ible and underhand measures.
Protests were sent from all points without
avail. The company's official journal, con-
tanning the order, with an audacity unpar-
allied, had published on the same page, the
quarterly report, showing increased profits,
and no word Of explanation in the editorial
columns as to the inconsistency. Salaries
were depreciating everywhere. When the
"sradatiou" was announced, it was mistaken
at first for an olive branch, but it was soon
plain that it was concocted for the purpose
Of cutting deeper than the previous method.
In 1876 secret circular eManated from the
executive department, instructing superinten-
dents that all vacancies must be filled at Ave
dollars less per month, than received BY pre-
vious occupants. This Infamous scheme had
the desired effect, as under its working, sal.
aries dropped in six Months to forty dollars
and fifty dollars.-North, South, East and
West. Everybody became discouraged and
demOralized. Those who could leave the
business did so. The outlook until 1880 was
very dark, all classes being dismayed and in-
dienant. During the year the American
Union and other competeine telegraph COM
panes, compelled the Western Union to
slightly advance some salaries in order to
retain their best men, but Immediately after
the consolidation of these companies, the
systematic reduction of salaries was again
inaugurated. After the shooting of President
Garfield, the volume Of business increased to
such an extent, that further reductions for
the time being ceased. 1t 10 quite probable
that the formation Of local assemblies of the
brotherhood throughout the United States
and Canada has prevented any further re-
auctions. The members Of the brotherhood
feel that they are nov strong enough to war
rant them in demanding Of the various tele.
graph companies partial restoration To the
standard OF salaries paid before the mercile,s
and systematic "squeezes" were made. The
following Is brief explanation of the several
clauses embraced in the bill Of grievances
presented to the telegraph companies Of the
United States and Canada:
SUNDAY WORK.
1t 10 almost unnecessary 70 call attention
to the well-known fact thar all branches ~