The San Francisco call., 1907-06-06
STRIKING ELECTRICIANS
DEFY DISTRICT COUNCIL
Refuse to Return to Work at
the Command of Presi-
dent Kelly
MOVEMENT SPREADS
Oakland and San Rafael
Operators May Quit
Their Posts
MOVEMENT SPREADS

The electricians of union No. Isl, who
def1ed the district council with which
they are afiliated and refused to de-
clare on the strike which was called
Monday to aid the telephone girls In
their fight for recognition from the
company, will remain out and will de-
cline to recognize the authority of
President Kelly of the council. This
was the unanimous decision of the
meeting which ended early yesterday
morning.
President Leonard of No. Isl said
yesterday that the linemen would stay
out as long as the girls did.
The telephone operators union must
be recognized" said he, "and Grand
Vice President Sullivan of the inter-
national independent brotherhood Of
declared against US. will not proceed
in drastic way to call off this legiti-
mate sympathetic strike.
The alleged agreement which the
telephone company fnvokes to make
our members return to work was the
result of the last session of the dis
trict council in December and was not
consummated according to our con-
stitution. 1t was never officially signed
by the telephone company and the lat
ter expressly. stated that it would not
AOSOSAi1C OuI I1OWs lItcu, Coil
we be bound by an agreement when
one party to that instrument refuses
to recognize the existence of the other?
1t is double back acting agreement
which the company used when it had
need, but which was repudiated when
ever we would invoke it. Besides, No.
151 never indorsed the signing of the
agreement. which so far as we are con-
cerned, has no existence whatever. We
v,rfy lit
fight for the recognition of the opera
tors union We have SO informed Presi-
dent Lynch of the operators and we
will keep our word
According to the leaders of the tele-
phone operators union, the entire
phone service of the bay cities is likely
to be tied up within the next few
days The girls claim that their CO.
laborers in Oakland and San Rafael
unions while the strife has been in
progress here and are ready to leave
their posts at short notice.
A committee consisting Of Addie
Haines, Margaret Gray and Nellie
Sweeney OF the local union visited the
girls at San Rafael last night After
a lengthy conference the committee an
nounced that the San Rafael girls
would go out on strike unless their
as those made by the local union, be
granted 1t is expected that the San
Rafael girls will make known their
grievances today or tomorrow.
While the flrst committee was busy
with the Marin county contingent, an
other body, headed by Alice Lynch,
president of the local union, was en-
ga ged with the Oakland operators. The
latter have already formed a union
and they will meet committee from
electrical workers No. 2sS Of the subur-
ban town this evening to discuss the
the local officers OF the telephone girls
union that If the compact is made. the
Oakland operators will walk out within
"a hours unless their demands be
granted.
Tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock the
local telephone girls will hold an i'm
portant meeting at the labor temple.
Rev. Father York of Oakland has been
invited to attend. 1t is stated on good
authority that he will be asked 90
give his views on the strike and offer
suggestions relating to its speedy set
Element.
The management of the telephone
company expressed no alarm yesterday
over the situation, but claimed, on the
contrary, that every day more opera
tors were being put at work and that
the service was becoming better. The
ranks of the striking linemen would be
filled, it was said, and the statement
was made that Vice President Sullivan
had assured the company that he would
see that union men were put on the
Jobs that were vacated by the strikers.