The San Francisco call., 1907-06-05
TELEPHONE LINEMEN
ORDERED BACK To WORK
President of Local Union
Says Men Violated
Agreement
TROUBLE MAY ENSUE
Strikers Are Inclined to
Rebel Against Order
of Their Chief
TROUBLE MAY ENSUE

Electrical workers of union No. Isl
were notified yesterday by President ].
c. Kelly that the 200 members who
went out on sympathetic strike from
the employ OF the telephone company
in order TO aid the striking telephone
operators must return to their work at
once.
Kelly received a letter from G. J.
corcoran, special agent for the tele-
phone company. advising him OF the
action of some OF the members of
local 151 and calling his attention to
an agreement existing between the
company and the Pacific district coun-
Gil, with which Isl is affiliated, which
provides for continued peace between
the company and the electricians for
several months 20 come. Until the
agreement expires. wrote Corcoran,
there can De no strike called. Kelly
agreed in this and so instructed the
men.
A meeting was called last night at
Dubece hall and the subject OF return
Ing to work was discussed. Open re-
bellion was urged by some against the
Instructions OF President Kelly. Up 10
$50 o'clock this morning there bad
been no agreement arrived at and some
OF the members who left the hall be-
fore the meeting closed stated that the
labor struggle was likely to be car
rieo into an internal fight
The meeting was bitter and stormy
The 200 men who went out Monday
TO help the telephone girls were to a
man in favor of staying out.
M. J. Sullivan, grand vice president
of the Independent brotherhood of cleo
trical workers, answered that IL the men
struck and refused to go back there
would be nothing to do but place other
trict council could not repudfate its
agreement with the telephone company.
That the linemen were anxious TO
essist the striking telephone operators
was evident from the storm that
broke when the correspondence between
the telephone company and district
council of electricians was read last
night
Earlier in the day. during a meet
ing between the committees from No
15l and the hello girls" union in Mas
ter Plumbers hall. corner of Cough
and Page streets, the spirit Of revolt
against the council of independent
brotherhood of electrical workers was
evident. After that meeting the men,
bers Of the oprators' union insisted that
No Isl was with them and would re-
main on strike, so far as the telephone
company was concerned, until President
Scott. recognized the union. At the
meeting last night there was much of
the same stubbornness displayed, par
ticuiarIF by the men who walked out
from the employ of the company last
Monday.
Following are the letters that stirred
Up the discussion last night in Duboce
hall;
THE PROTEST
Office Of the Superintendent Of Equipment,
Pacific Telephone Company. San Francisco. Cal.
June 4, 19O7-Pacihc District Council No. a.;
Treasurer-Gentlemen With reference TO the
agreement entered into by the district council
and this company, under date of December -
1906. TO be enforced till February j, 190S,
wish 70 call your attention TO the fact that the
members Of your organization, No. 15l, San
Francisco. have called q strike of the employees
cf this company. No notification was received
from you prior TO this action, and ask that
immediate action be taken TO nullify the pres
ent strike order. and that we hear from ysu
in connection with the same at your earliest
c. J. coRCoRAN. Special Agent
THE ANSWER
San Francisco, Cal, June T. 1eo7-C. J. Cor
onrsD, Special Agent Pacific Telephone Company.
Dear Sir: / beg 10 acknowledge receipt Of your
communication Of even date, stating that local
unon 151 has broken the agreement entered into
by the Pacific telephone and telegraph company
rrict on December -, 1905. and in force until
February j, 1905
wish 20 inform you that the Pacific district
council Of the interns tienal brotherhood of cleo
fricsl workers viii net sanction any such action
taken by the members Of said local union. and.
IN compliance with your request will take imne-
diste steps To nullify the Illegal action taken 10y
the said local union Yours truly ~
President Pacific District co1Dcil /. !. B. z. ".