The San Francisco call., 1907-06-27
Operators Pickets Quit the
Ferry Building
President Small Is Optimistic Over the
Prospect for Winning Strike

Western Union. carried what is known as
the extra roll were informed that they would
not De paid the increase until after they had
been IN the service six months and all new
rate In effect prior TO March /. This mean,
that one third OF the working force would not
ger the increase at all, and uli those whc
did receive il would lose It if they transferred
from city 20 another
Immediately after March ! tine union officials
at national headquarters sent instructions 10
al officers Of locals. of which we have l2e. 20
watch closely ami prevent the inauguration #
enough reports were received to show that .
per cent OF the 10 per cent increase had been
taken sway from those who received 1t. Al
the present writing one-half of the increase
granted March I has been Withdrawn by both
the Western Union and Postal companies
On April both companies announced 70
per cent Increase In telegraph tolls, 10 which
there was no sliding scale ettschmenf quite
the contrary. instead Of il being n straight 2O
per cent increase Il Was in some cases as much
tolls the telegraPhers naturally resented the
actlen Of the two companies when the sliding
scale wss brought into operation. They felt
that II the companies were 10 be permitted to
tax the public to the extent of from 20 to 40
per cent on all kilograms sent and received they
should keep faith with their employees snd the
public and pay the operators the 10 per cent
Increase in salaries
Three months ago we organized the Western
Uni0n's main office IN New York. the general
heaoqnarters Of the company. At the same time
the telegraphers Of San Francisco presented
asking for an increase all along the line
amounting 10 - per cent
The organizing Of the Western Union office in
New York wss followed by discrmns tions
againsu our members in that city. Men aud
women were discharged for cause whatever
until VIZ finally called halt by presenting a
complaint 10 the chief operator Of the New
York Office. whose reply was not satisfactory
Ne went then TO President Clowry. who made
no reply whatever; then we appealed 10 the board
Of directors with similar result
-r-xr- UnUE rur-TrNc- nrru,rn
By this time the feeling in New York was
Tery bitter against both the Western Union and
Postal. but we had not as yet presented a bill
Of grievance to the Postal company although
had made several efforts TO get a conference
With General Manager Nslly.
June we presented a schedule 70 the Postal
company in New York asking Of them similar
concessions 10 those embodied in the memorial TO
the board OF directors Of the Western Union
To this received reply. President Mackav
ignoring all communications asking FOR con
About this time summoned the hcmbcrs of
our general executive board to meet in New
York The meeting was held during the week
beginning June 10. The board voted 10 au-
thoTize a strike in San Francisco.
While was travelling across the continent
Commissioner Of Labor Neill went 10 New York
and made an effort TO adjust the trouble He
only partially successful, Dssmuch the
reply President Clowry made to Mr.. Neill was
in the nature Of q statement defining the com
psny's position and not agreement to do
anything. In the negotiations with MIR. Neill
tne western Union OIncl2ls uiO NOT consider inc
situation in San Francisco at all, therefore when
arrived here / found the situation so far as
San Francisco is concerned in the same condition
Il when / left New York.
At midnight Tuesday the following report was
received at union headquarters, showing where
and how San Francisco kilograms for the east
being handled:
.'San Francisco office had $40 ges On
hand IL hours behind; Denver $50, 20 hours be
hind: Los Angeles $50. "a hours old; Salt Lake
I75 behind. 10 hours old; Portland 346 "a hours
old: Seattle $50 behind, "a hours old. total
Of 2.3oI San Francisco kilograms in transit be
tween San Francisco and the east by easy
stages"
At Los Angeles Saturday night / 900 messages
for San Francisco disappeared from the oper-
sting room. It is presumed they were shipped
by train to Oakland, where they would arrive
in time for delivery early Monday morning
The fact that Denver, Salt Lake, Los Angeles.
Portland and Seattle are relaying coast business
is significant. Under normal conditions San
Francisco works direct with Chicago New York
and other large eastern cities Since the strike
occurred business has been routed in any and
all directions from the east TO San Francisco,
the practice Of the telegraph companies being
to get business as near the ''storm center as
possible aud then, If communication has not
been restored" send 1t into San Francisco by
train