The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-19
LINEMEN STILL OUT
NO CHANGE IN GEORGIA TELE-
PHONE STRIKE.
NEW SCHEDULE WAGES ASKED
STRIKERS CLAIM THAT THEY EX-
PECT To WIN.

Local Union No. IS Endorsed the Ac-
tiOn of the Strikers Last Night
and Committee of Arbitration Was
Appointed to Wait on the Georgia
Telephone Company-Wage Scale
Recently Submitted by the Union
Must BE Signed by Monday Next.
A. j. Walker Says the Wages Here
Are Lower Than Elsewhere.
There was no change in the strike
situation at the offices of the Georgia
Telephone and Telegraph Company yes
terday.
None of the men who walked out
Wednesday had returned to work up TO
a late hour, and while Manager Ken
yon said that things were not very Sc
rious. it was understood that no new
men We're brought to the city during
the day.
Mr.. a. j. Walker, chairman of the
Employees Committee, stated tina,
things We're all moving ahead satisfac-
torily for the men, and that he felt
confident that everything would come
out all right.
At regular meeting of Local Union
No. IS, International Order of Electric
Workers, held last night at the corner
of Whitaker and Broughton streets, the
matter was thoroughly discussed, and
it was shown to the satisfaction of
those present, that things were capa-
BILE of improvement. Local No. So put
stress upon the fact that there are
number of people interested in the
work.
Mr.. Walker, speaking for the men
and for the employees, said:"In the first
place, the dispute is between the Geor-
gia Telephone and Telegraph Company
and its employees. The union has moth
ing whatever 10 do with the present
walk-out. They did not order us out,
nor were they ever requested TO do so.
The facts are as follows: With no
exception the telephone workers in
Savannah are the lowest paid and
work under the poorest general condi-
tions of any city of its size, or even
one-third the size of population. That
being the case. the Electrical Workers
Union drew up a new wage and hour
scale. And it embodied in it an agree
ment. which we presented to the Geor-
gia Company after several conferences
had taken place between us.
Continuing Mr.. Walker said: 1.-THE
union withdrew the agreement, con-
sidering that ample time had been
given for its acceptance or rejection,
returning it again on Monday, June
Is. with some Objectionable clauses
expunged, whilst others were modified.
The union requested that the same be
signed by Monday, the 22d, by p. M,
or they would quit work. The answer
of the company to this was the serv-
ing of notices on the two highest paid
men, a foreman and lineman, respect
lively, that their services would no
longer be required after June 20.
The reason given the foreman was
that they were going to dispense with
the foreman on account of slackness
of work. Both men have taken a
prominent part in our struggle for
better conditions, the men knowing the
reason given by the company was
merely a Subterfuge. Before starting
work for the day Wednesday a meet
ing of employees was held 1t was
unanimously decided that the men
remain out until the notices were
withdrawn pending the company's de-
cision on the agreement.
This was refused by the company, on
the ground that to do so would make
it admit that the notices were given
as blow to the union. The Electro
cal Workers Union did not declare
strike. Nor have they had a meeting
since June IL. There was never any
desire expressed that Bell telephone
employees should strike from sympathy
nor would we have encouraged it,"
If the scale of wages demanded
by the Union. with nine hours work
instead of ten is signed the union
win not insist about the retention of
the foreman and assistant. The strik-
l.
be had in the neighborhood and that
the company would have a very hard
time filing in places made vacant
by the strike