The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-21

show for themselves. In the past year
we have had, while in actual perform
ity and number MANNED for life. besides
untold minor accidents, such as slight
burns, falls from poles, and SO on, where
broken bones and fractures were sus-
tanned. which will. of course, in time heal.
Our requests are reasonable and we
have number Of good reasons for ask
ing for this increase in wages. First the
expense of living has increased to such
an extent in the last year that it is i'm
possible for any man to keep himself and
family for what he could one year ago.
This fact even the companies do not deny.
Second. nearly every man working for
skilled labor. has received from his en-
plOyer. voluntarily or otherwise, an in
crease of wages within the last four or
five months. But on the other hand, the
electrical workers employed by telephone
companies have not received any increase
within the last three years, with the eX-
ception of. the cutting out of sliding
scale with the Rocky Mountain Bell Tele-
phone company two years ago. making its
standard scale for linemen $50 per day,
which is the scale at the present time.
Regarded AS Precedent.
''The employees of the Utah Light &
Railway company in the electrical depart
ment received on the first of this
month, without any serious difficulty, an
increase of fifty cents per day for line
men. and an approximate increase for
monthly men. Upon the face of all this,
and after fully considering everything
and celebrating upon this matter for four
months or more, looking at the question
at issue from all its phases, local No. 81
of the /. B. E. w. of Salt Lake City, de-
cded at their last regular meeting, on
May 16, to take independent action. re-
CARELESS of any further suggestions from
any source, and so notified by telegram
our grand vice president. They further
decided to ask the sanction and support
f,I, Of I oh
that body called a special meeting Sun
day afternoon. at Electrical Workers
hall.
1.-THE outcome OF that meeting is public
matter before this time. That body
unanimously voted to sustain the cleo
trical workers in any action they may be
compelled and forced to take.
Involves Many Men.
This controversy involves all linemen.
cable splicers, terminal men, testers and
installers in Salt Lake City and will.
within a few days. no doubt. involve all
electrical workers employed by telephone
companies throughout the district COM
posed Of Utah. Idaho. Montana and Wyo-
ming, where there is no agreement in
force at the present time.
Ogden. Utah. and Butte, Montana
have agreements at this time and will
not be involved until the expiration of
said agreements. Ogden's agreement will
expire on July 81, 1850.
Both Companies involved.
This is our case as it stands at the
present time, and the reasons that have
brought those conditions about This diff
ficulty is none of our seeking, but has
been forced upon us and. as free citizens
of this country, we refuse to be dealt
with as slaves any longer. We have been
unjustly dealt with by one or the largest
corporations in the United States. the
American Bell Telephone company, which
not only here but in a number of other
places Is doing its utmost to disrupt and
disorganize our organization. The Utah
Independent Telephone company appar-
emily Is following in the footsteps of the
larger corporation.
We now ask that the public of Salt
Lake be the judge and jury in this trial
between this gigantic trust and monopoly.
the American Bell Telephone company, on
one hand, and the employees of said
trust, members of the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, on the
other hand. If you think our cause is a
just one, then make it your cause and
help us by giving your moral support.
and that is all we ask at your hands, and
we feel sure that this moral support by
the public of Salt Lake City wifi be given
us. If this be done. then victory must
and shall in the name of justice. be ours.
Yours sincerely.
IL. LYNN.
President District Council"