The Washington times., 1902-04-14
TELEPHONE GIRLS
GHRBA|lHE 10 STRIKE
Object to WorkingAdditional
Hours Each Day.
TAKING A FIRM STAND
Increase of Working Hours Without
Consequent Increase in Pay, They
Claim, Is an Injustice They Cannot
Put Up With.

The hello girls" of the local branch of
the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Company are on the verge of declaring a
strike.
The disruption has been caused by an
order from the superintendent stating that
the operators would be required to add
several hours more to their daily lab0rs.
The number OF hours added range from
two to four. according to the time the
operators work, whether during the day
or at night. The girls stoutly protest
against the additional hours and say they
Will 20 out il the order is continued in
force.
The order is not as stringent upon some
of the operators as it is upon others.
Those who work during the day have only
one or two hours added, while those on
the night shift have four or five hours
added. If the remuneration were greater,
the girls say. there would not be SO much
to complain about, but such is not the
case. They say they are required TO work
eight and ten hours day now for INSULT
cient remuneration. AS the order issued
several days ago regarding the change of
hours does not make any mention Of an
increase of pay. the girls express them
selves as greatly dissatisfied, and are
very much worked up. 1t is very doubt
fui il they would consent to work the
added time even if salaries were increas-
ed. They think it is doubtful whether
they could stand the strain of working
twelve or twelve and a half hours during
the summer. The girls seem to think
that it would be physical impossibility.
Hours Changed Elsewhere.
The local branch. it is stated, is not the
only one in which a change OF hours is
contemplated. The exchanges in Balti-
more and several other cities have been
informed OF reduction in the forces and
the increasing of the hours of work
Many OF the girls in other cities, it is
stated, have handed in their designations.
In all cities except Washington the oper-
ators work eight hours and no more, it is
stated, because they are protected by the
labor organizations.
The order which has caused the disrup-
ton, 1t is stated, comes directly from the
New York officials. Saturday morning the
night operators were informed that they
should report Sunday night at O'Clock
instead of 10. as heretofore. The night
side is composed of eight or ten girls.
This did not hinder them from registering
z kick to the superintendent against
the enforcement of the rule. The case was
argued pro and con- for nearly an hour,
and finally the girls were told that they
could report at Z o'clock until further
orders. They are UNDER the impression
that they will get the further orders to
night. For more than five years the night
trick of duty has consisted of nine hours
work; from 10 at night until the next
morning. These are said to be the hardest
hours worked by anyone in the exchange. |
If the proposed rule continues in effect, !
the girls will have TO report at I at night
and work until the next morning. On
Sundays they will be called upon to work |
until O'Clock in order to give the day
opera tors who relieve them, a chance to
attend the Sunday services
Great Things Promised.
The company, it is stated, promised
great things to the girls If they will only |
receive the new order in good spirit. They |
proposed to allow each operator a night |
off. and. it is said, would take out full
days pay for her staying off. The COM
pany also promised to increase the force
by putting on several student opera |
tors. The so-called students" are those |
girls who are inexperienced and get
small salary. Another thing said to have
been promised is sleeping accommoda- |
lions.
The only difficulty encountered by the |
striking operators is that all of the girls |
have not as yet declared their intentions. |
The majority OF them, who are expert |
enced and know what the hours would |
mean. are against the project. There only |
remain several 'plebe" or student OPP |
orators. who are said TO be willing to |
work almost any number OF hours, as |
they believe if they stick to their posts |
they will enhance their chances OF re- |
ceiving more pay for their services. 1t |
is these girls that the would-be strikers |
are trying to convince what the hours !
mean. The order went into effect for |
some OF the operators last night. Those |
who reported at o'clock and are to work |
until this morning are the ineXperi- |
enced ones. who formerly worked from t ,
in the afternoon until 10 at night. The |
OF the girls will do their utmost !
to secure promises from these girls that |
they will not continue this.