Omaha daily bee., 1883-07-20
THE OPERATORS CASE.
Memorial Of the Photographers and a
Recital Of Their Grievances.

RGClldl Vi TlGlr GllGVdlCGS,
Long Hours, Poor Pay and Tyranica
Oppression.
The following is an official statemen
from the executive officers of the Broth
erhood of Telegraphcrs, concerning tn,
difficulties existing between TELEGRAPH
companies and and their employees. Thit
statement is furnished to the press in or
der that the public may not be deceived
by unauthorized statements which may
eminate from irresponsible parties.
On Monday July 1Gtq, the executiv,
board of the Brotherhood of Telegraph.
ers of the United States and Canada pre-.
scented to the executive officers of the
several commercial telegraph companies
of the United States and Canada, n me.
mortal placing before the companies the
grievances of the operators and employees
generally, and petitioning for the redress
of the same. The companies to whom
the memorial was presented embrace the
following: In Canada, the Great North
western and the Mutual Union. In the
United States, the Western Union, Mu-
tual Union, American Rapid, Baltimore
and Ohio Commercially, New York
Mutual District telegraph companies;
also, the Metropolitan telephone COM
pany of New Pork and the Chicago tele-
phone company of Chicago.
The bills of grievances are rs follows:
AMERICAN COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
SECTION /. Believing that mans phys.
cal and mental welfare requires that at
least one day in seven be accorded him
for rest and recreation, we ask for the
total abolition of Sunday duty, unless
compensation as extra service.
SEC. 2. That eight hours shall consti-
tute n regular days work, and seven
hours a regular nights work, and that
both sexes shall receive equal pay for
equal work.
SEC. 3. That n universal increase of 10
per cent on all salaries shall be petitioned
now for.
CANADIAN COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
The memorial of the Canadian Com
mercial telegraph employees is identical
with that presented by the American en-
ployes, with the exception of Section 1,
which asks for a fixed compensation for
Sunday work of forty cents per hour;
Section 3, that salaries now paid shall be
increased according to the following
schedule:-Employes now receiving 500
per month and month and upward, 1C
per cent increase; employees receiving
from S45 to 500 per month, ID per cent
increase; employees receiving $35 to S45
per month, 20 per cent increase; and that
the lowest salary paid shall be $50 pei
month. This applies to all practical tele.
graphic employees, suchas operators, clerks
and linemen.
The American Memorial asks for the
linemen, that eight hours shall constitute
a days work; that compensation at the
rate of two days pay shall be allowed fol
all Sunday work; that the lowest salary
paid a regular lineman shall be sixty-iv,
dollars per month and for helpers fifty
dollars per month, and that the duties Of
linemen shall be confined solely to theil
legitimate work.
The American Memorial petitions OF
behalf of the tirst-class Wheatstone oper
ators, that they shall be paid at the rate
of seventy five dollars per month, and fol
the second class operator sixty dollars pei
month; that THAR working hours shall be
the same as the nioIru operators. This
completes the several Memorials. (The
first-class Wheatstone operators are at
present time receiving but $50 per month,
and second class operators but 500
The members of the Brotherhood claim
that their organization is the result of the
tyranical and unjust treatment meted out
to them during the past ten years, and
that their demands are not unreasonable,
in view 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 suggestive facts
in support OF their claims: Between the
years 1870 and 1874, two general reduc-
tions took place throughout the country,
amounting to about forty-fise per cent.
From 1874 to 1877, local superintendent
and managers in order to curry favor
with the company, We'd with each other
in economic suggestions. In 1878, the
executive officers seeing the men submit
so tamely to this process, became holder,
and announced the famous Tor Infamous
sliding scale or general reduction of from
five to twenty-five per cent on all en-
ployees. This instrument had the quail
ty of sliding but one way, (downward)
and was followed by many contemplate
and underhand measures.
Protests were sent from all points with
out avail. The %company's official jour
nal containing the order, with an audac
ity unparalleled, had published on TIN
same page, the quarterly report. showing
increased profits, and no word of explain
alton in the editorial columns as to tn
inconsistency. Salaries were depreciat
ing everywhere. When the ''grada
ton was announced, it wa mistaken a
first for an olive branch, but it was 500
plain that it was concocted for the pun
pose of cutting deeper than the previou
method.
In 1876 a secret circular emanated fror
the executive department., instructin
superintendants that all vacancies mus
be filed at five dollars less per month
than received by previous occupants
This infamous scheme had the desire
effect, as under its working, salaries droI
ped in six months to forty dollars an
fifty dollars-north, south, east and wesI
Everybody became discouraged and dt
moralized. Those who could leave til
business did so. The outlook until 1888
was very dark, all classes being dismaye
and indignant. During that year til