New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-15
The TELEGRAPH OPERATORS.
AWAITING ACTION BY THE BROTHERHOOD.
A STRIKE NOT CONSIDERED LIKELY-wHAT THE MEN
COMPLAIN OZONE HAPPY OPERATOR.

COMPLAIN OZONE HAPPY OPERATOR
There have been no new developments in regard
to the dissatisfaction among telegraph men. Inc
GENERATORS are awaiting the action OF the committee
OF the Brotherhood bavlng the matter In charge,
and do not know what action wall be taken Shouid
the committee deem strike advisable the men VIII
undoubtedly strike. but the universal opinion 10
that there will DO no strike
"The men do not want to strike" said one oper-
atOr yesterday, and are as ANXIOUS 10 secure .
are As soon as the committee has prepared the
bill of grievances it will be presented to the
companies and we viii stand or ran Dy IT. mere
will be no compromise or breakdown on oar part.
We know our strength and while we do not Wish 10
make any undue use OF it we will certainly insist
on justice being done u.s. great aea. 81 tne ld dt
guess-wOrk and il either made up out OF whole
cloth or else some facetous operators nave Oeen
giving the reporters the widest sot! Oh hs
having this matter in charge has been gwen
by some OF the papers. There are great many more
than five mon in the committee, for every member
of the Brotherhood is bound by the strictest oblga
tons not to divuge any names or any or the pro-
ceedngs of the body; so you see all this tax ABOUT
what the demands will be and the actlon OF the
committee is mere guess-work. A good many OF
the stories come either from the Western Union
people themselves or from operators VINO are not
members of the Brotherhood No demands nave
been made on the companies as yet and there VIII
be none made until the COMMITTEES returns TO New,
York. and not even the members OF the brothernood
know what the character OF the demand
will be- MY own idea is that one of the principal
things asked will be equal pay for equal work What
Will be done about shorter hours and advance in
c pityys DO not A"0" nor D''' D'''u' ''' III
+ b. Taltaval, one of the editors of The Telegraph
ery 1drocate the organ of the Brotherhood said
matter would be very likoy takon III hand was the
condition OF the railroad men. Ho gave as an IN
stance OF their work the of Paul u. WEIGH, the
tra dispatcher who caused the recent collision at
Piainy,lie. Conn. WEIGH received a salary of $40
n month: his regular trick " was twelve hours a
day and should the night man fail to report he
vas for thirty-six hours consecutlyely on
duty. He was receiving the order from the super
intendcnt to take the night trick, when he tailed
to send the order which caused the accident In the
Harlem Tunnel the men work for 12l2 hours q day
Inv gaslicht at all times, and have to inhale the
smoke and foul atmosphere. Ina very short time
they are seized with lung troubles. Their pay is
from $40 to $50 month The committee will IN all
probability take this matter up. Mr.. Ialtavall
expressed himself in regard to the recent order Of
the Western Union Telegraph Company as follows:
ITO the day men it is slight gain, probably ~ a
month: in the matter of Sunday work. The night
men are actually worse of. They have been hereto
fore compelled TO Work Only sTo Saqaays IN the
| making a loss of from 81 to So month.
So far from being concession to the mon, IL is &C
finally saving to the company. In every way tho
new Tule works in favor of the company and Will
not be satisfactory to the men"
An operator in Harlem branch Office was found
who was jubilant over the new orderof things II
ait will make things all right with me. NY tnck Is
from half past 2 In the morning until O'Clock
"a might.
ence of five hours day with me. There are
a good many men in the smaller branch OFF,
ces who are in the same position / guess
We are about the only men who will be bene-
flied by the new order OF things"
At the Office of the Western Union Company moth
ing was known by the officials of any Impending
stiike Superintendent ilumstone said that no de-
mand had been made by the operators on the
company for shorter hours or higher pay. They
had submitted no statement of grievances nor had
any conference with the officers been arranged or
suggested The company was entirely ignorant OF
the condition of affairs among the men as published
i'm the new spapers "There are constant individual
applications for increase of salary" continued Mr..
Humstone. There is not week that the COM
pany's committee does not pass upon over q
hundred Of these applications. complaints etc"
"Are most of the applications rejected r inquired
the reporter.
ed, OF course, there some which must be re-
fused'
Nit Humstone was asked about the assertion OF
many of the operators that the rule recently
sued by the company IN regard 10 working hours
practically injured the night men. lie replied that
he did not understand that the new order had that
effect Ii was not intended 20 operate in reduction
of paw aud If upon investigation IL should De found
TO do so, lie had no doubt that the rule would be
modified.
All OF the officers of the company declare their be-
lief that no strike will he made without submis-
sion of grievances and demands to the company
first.