The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-07-19

| WORKING, AhlHfle UTOppeu III blA IHOHtHs "
$40 and $G0-north, south, east and west
morallzed Those who could leave th'
business did go The outlook until 1889
was very dark, all classes being dismayet
aud indignant. During that year The
American Union and other competing
telegraph com panies. compelled the Wesi
ern Union company to slightly advaDc,
some salaries in order TO retain their best
men, but Immediately after the consolida-
ton OF these compf MES, the systematic re-
duction OF salaries was again inaugurated.
After the shooting of President Garfield,
the volume of business increased to such an
extent, that further reductions 9or the time
being ceased. 1t is quite probable that the
formation of local assemblies Of the brother
hood throughout the United Stats and
Canada has prevented any further reduc::
tions. The members of the brotherhood
feel that they are now strong enough to
warrant them Ia demanding OF The various
telegraph companies partial restoration
to the standard of salaries paid before the
merciless and systematic "squeezes" were
made. The following is a brief explanation
of the several clauses e,lbraced in the bill
of grievances presented to the telegraph
companies of the United States and Canada:
SUNDAY WORK.
1t is almost unnecessary to call attention
labor skilled and unskilied, when required
to perform Sunday work, receive extra, and
in many cases double pay for such work,
which is not the case with telegrsphic en-
ployes, who are at present required to per-
| form such service without extra compensa-
ton.
HOURS OF LABOR.
Telegraph operators are required to poe
sess skill OF high order: their occupation
is confning and continuous and upon them
| is concentrated the gravest responsibilities,
and this responsibility is constant and op-
pressive. 1t wears alike upon mind and
body and impairs the elasticity of both,
while it al way demands the best conditions
of both. The late Mr.. William Orton, presi-
dent of the Western Union Telegraph COM
panv whose executive ability and general
knowledge on all subjects pertaining TO
telegraphy cannot be questioned, testified
before congressional committee that tele-
graph operators could lot perform daily
more than six hours of continuous labor
without endaugering theft health. conse-
quently the demand for eight hours for day
work and seven for night work is believed
to be reasonable andjust. Ina number OF
| the principal offices seven hours constitutes
a nights work at the present time, but it
is claimed by the operators that they nave
no uniform system of working hours, 1t be-
ing optional with local man agers TO regu-
late the same, and who. to curry favor with
their superiors, frequently impose extra
working hours upon the unpro otected op-
orator ia order that they may show eco
nomical management.
In explanation of the demand for gen.
eral increase of fifteen per cent, 1t is only
necessary to call attention to the frequent
reductions that have been made, notwith
standing the net profits of handling mes
sages are much greater than in former
years, occasioned by improved machinery
and more skilful labor now employed.
wHBATsToNE OPERATORS.
The seeming exorbitant demand in favor
of the wheatstone operators Is explained as
follows: Twelve months ago number OF
the understanding that as soon as the sys-
tenn was put in practical operation they
would be fairly compensated. On the first
of March of the present year they began
work and were informed by the manager
that their allowance was to be 500 per
month, at the same time giving them to
understand that as they succee led in de-
yeloping the system their position wouia
improve Five months have now elapsed,
and although they have been fully engaged
during that time, and are now doing nearly
three times the amount OF work done IN
| the opening month, they have not yet re-
ceived any indication that their interests or
salaries, which they deem wholly made
quate, are to be improved.
STAT sTICs..
The Brotherhood Telegr5phers has gen.
eral statistcian, also local statistician IN
nearly every city and town in the United
States and Canada. Complete statistics
have been gathered, and show the follow
ing general averages of wages paid at pres.
ent time: The average pay for commercial
operators in the United States is S54 43
per month"; average for commercial opera
tors of Canad is $37 40 per month; average
of railroad operators-in the United States is
$50 so; average FIR railroad operators tor
in Canada is $2912. 1t should be borne in
mind that operators are not allowed extra
compensation tor Sunday work, and that
railroad operators at stations where put
one man is employed, are required to WORK
from fourteen to sixteen hours per day, and
on many roads are required to sleep in or
convenient to their offices, so that they may
be called to receive orders for delayed, and
obtain help for wrecked trains. These calls
on manV roads, are OF frequent occurrence.
The following dispatched from ST, Louis,
published in yesterdays HERALD, is the
substance of the reply of
General Eckert, general manager
of the Western Union comany, sent from
Chicago to l.. G. Baker. superintendent al
st Louis.
CHIC 90, July III. G. Baker, superintend.
eut, st. Louis, Missouri:
The following is just received from Cen
eral Eckert, general manager OF the
| Western Union Telegraph CON paDy, New
York: The committee OF the brotherhood
States and Canada, in this
me- orial, call on the company for
certain concessions In regard TO hours and
rates of pay, substantially In accordance
with the programme, with which you have
been familiar since their March
meeting in Chicago. The party were
asked If they represented the employees
of this company, and upon replying al
Arm stiyely they were requested TO furnish
list of such employees. This, they said,
thsy were not able to do, stating that 1t
would require a long time 10 prepare list
and that they were here on expense, and
that they we're told that the company did
not know the committee, or whether its
members had authority from the Western
| Union Telegraph company's employees 20
nresent any demand. and that we could
not deal with outside parties. One demand
| Is that both sexes shall receive equal pay
for equal work; and another Is for
rs per cent. increase on all sala-
ries. An operator now receiving salary
Of $50 would, by this plan. get smaller In
crease than one receiving $50 or SvO. linus
ssO operators at present working nine
Sonrs daily, twenty six DAYS per month,
receive equal pay 70 "a lslOo cents per
hour. Under the schedule in the memorial
tbe same operator woBld receive S92 per
month for eight hours. The compensation
IL equal TO about 30 per cent. increase IN
addition to the Sunday allowance just
granted under the new rule. This Is the
smaljest increase demanded. In the case
Of a Wheatstone operator receiving
s5O per month for twenty-six work
ing days, equsl 10 2l 3-lOO cents
neT hour, the proposed schedule
rsould give him 41 46-100 cents per hour, an
,,cr.,sse OF over o. per cent Another de-
msnd Is that linemen shall get Two deys
nn., 81, ssoday work, and that S65 shs,l be
~ iowsst r.Sfe Of pay regardless OF location
=, IN =, rorts n cs lqf service, and that the du-