The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-08
Local Telephone Operators Have
Trouble With Employers.
ARE NOT WANT 60.
for Taking Active Part in Forma-
ton Of Association, ana Greater
Part Of Local Force Refuses 10
ststed-statements Of Both sides.

Sixty switchboard operators Of the SUM-
set Telephone Company left its service
yesterday afternoon as a result of the
company Diminishing three young women
who were alleged to have been rinslead-
ers in tho formation Of q union OF the
telephone girls. In consequence of the
difficulty the telephone service OF the city
last night was very irregular, there be-
ing not more than twenty-six operators
at the boards.
Tho story Of the trouble as told by
the young women Is as follows: A short
time age they decided to form an asso-
citation among themselves for mutual
benefit and protection. and also with the
object Of regulating their hours Of duty
and their wages. A temporary organiEa-
ton was formed Friday night.
Yesterday afternoon. according to the
young women. four OF the most expert
enced local operators in the employ Of the
company were summoned to the superin-
tendents ONCE. Awaiting them there
were @. B. Bush, trafflc manager. who
had just arrived in the city; F. G. Mill
ard, the superintendent, and another ON
cial. They questioned the operators, II
10 said, a. to the part they had taken IN
the formation of . union. and ultimately
dismissed three Of tho young women. The
latter were detained in the ONCE and the
following notice was posted In the hall:
Seattle, WASH. July Z. 100.
To the Operating Department: The
ringleadsrs who have besn endeavoring
s Sess M: ana .ns Do
ere who leave their positions through
u9Ssr tS any o, fonsas1sen
ciates the hard work Of the Young ladies
during the Nome travel, ana have al
rssdy naS % new OF saaF
The management Is very much morti-
ned TO learn Of the disloyalty on the part
S. q hs =: tns sH0s " su, ydn:
ardlse their future by lending their coun-
tenancs TO . scheme Of an agitator who
truly. f. c. WILLARD.
Assistant Superintendent.
The news soon reached the operating
room. and was passed Down the main
switching board. with the result that
sixty of the local employees forthwith
stopped work and marched down to the
entrance hall, where they were met by
Mr.. Willard and Mr.. Bush.
The girls refused to go back to work
unless the three who had been dismissed
were reinstated. and the officials were
equally resolved not to reconsider their
action. siouam
Finally matters are said to have reached
such a point that Mr.. Maliard gave the
operators the alternative OF either going
back to work Immediately or leaving the
Mr.. Bush, however. is said to have
interposed. as the superintendent was In
dicating the door to the operators. Both
officials then, the young women declare.
planted their backs against the door and
refused to let them depart. The latter
advanced the proposition that tho three
who were dismissed should be reinstated
pending adjustment, but the officials re-
fused to consider the matter. Mr.. Mil
lard Ia alleged TO have requested the
young women to go to work until Mon
day without the three being rsinstated,
and that then the affair would be con-
sidered. Al O'Clock in the afternoon.
neither side being able to come to an
agreement, tho operators left the build
ing. a.. -
Collectors. stenographers and other
members of the companys force were
then pressed into service at the switch
board. :
Last night the operators hold . meeting
in the Halter block and discussed the
situation. committee TO have general
supervision OF the trouble was appointed,
and permanent organization. to he
known as the Seattle Telephone Opera
tors Union. was effected.
The young women declare that they
are not strikers, but have simply been
dismissed from the service OF the COM
pany. They say that In the formation
of their union strike was never con-
templated, and that tho happenings of
yesterday were totally unexpected by
them,
G.. b. Bush, traffic manager OF the COM
pany, said of the strike Yesterday
We dismissed three OF the young vo-