The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-17
.L|NEMEN STRIKE
 FOR HIGHER PAY
Statements Differ as to Num-
 Der Involved
ATLANTA IS HEADQUARTERS
Men Want NIne-hour Day, Time and Half for Overtime and Double Tine for Sundays and
 Holidays.

Atlanta, April 16-The strike of the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph company's 1inemen which has been ru- mored for some time was inaugurated to- day. It Is understood that only the line men are involved in the strike. The statements as to the number of men who actually quit work today vary Col. w. T. Gentry, vice president of the company declaring that only about 40O of 1000 men employed in the territory affected are out, while Dale Smith of Washington. presl- dent of District Council Nos. 1 and ,, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, asserted that eighty per cent of the 1200 to 1400 men in the territory are out. Mir Smith based his assertion on in- complete telegraphic reports and says the exact number out will be known to- morrow morning.
 The contest which will be fought out in Atlanta, covers the states of West Yir- ginla, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama. The linemen state their claims to be nine-hour day time and half for over time, double time for Sundays and holi- days; an increase in wages for llnemen, apprentices and instrument men. MT Smith said today that negotiations for adjusting these matters have been under way for more than a year.
 Strikers Present Their Views.
 The position of the striking linemen was outlined today by Mir. Smith and James N. Noonan, vice president of the South eastern division, as follows:
 'The matter of increased wages and other grievances was taken up at meet ing in Atlanta one year ago this month and a committee was named to confer with the Bell officials. Negotiations were opened immediately with Colonel Gen try, but he refused to treat or make any concessions referendum vote was then ordered for strike or no strike which resulted in a practically unanimous vote for strike. We earnestly desired to avoid strike, and another committee from the district council again conferred with MT. Gentry but with no tangible results. Finally Mir Gentry agreed to increase the wages for linemen in certain towns. These promises were never fulfilled. At the same time Mir. Gentry agreed to take up the question Of 2.10 Tor the llnemen anu over pay for certain duties We met him last month and he then stated that he had not and would not take Up the mat ter. This brought us down to last Sat urday, when MT. Gentry finally said he would not agree to anything. and we issued orders for the men in the territory to go out Monday morning"
 Gentry Makes Statement.
 "The men who struck said Colonel Gentry vice president of the company. were receiving more money than was demanded by the union. The highest daily wage demanded by union officials was g 75 per day of nine hours.
 "We are paying our first-class linemen s2 70 per day of nine hours, giving them two hours off on Saturday for which they receive full pay. making their total wages average $2 so per day. Numbers of our linemen have stated that .ney have no grievance against the company. The wages the hours and the treatment they received were satisfactory The union wished us to sign an agreement to pay the present scale for a definite period, to complaints of our men come to us through grievance committee composed of union men or officials. We declined to sign this agreement preferring to deal directly with the men. believing that our interests and the interests of the men as experience has demonstrated would be best subserved by the method now in vogue"