The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-15
LABOR ORGANIZATION AND BELL
COMPANY GET TOGETHER.
TERMS OF. AGREEMENT
Settlement Effected at Butte Yester.
day Morning-Not Entirely Unex-
pected-InjunctIon Suits viii All Be
Dismissed.

bue Dell VIII
headquarters in this city, receive
word yesterday that an agreemen
was reached yesterday morning a
Butte between the Rocky Mountain
Bell Telephone company and the Nor
tana Federation Of Labor whereby tn
differences between the company an,
certain labor unions are adjusted.
Rumors that the strike would sool
be settled have been rife for severa
days and it is said that the agreemen
was endorsed by all Of the unions ii
the state with the exception Of Butt,
and Anaconda before Saturday night
when the former union endorsed 1t
Il has been stated that the Anaconda
union endorsed the agreement Monda,
night.
The contract is binding for one
year and will continue thereafter un,
til either party desires to withdraw
from 1t.
History Of Strike.
The strike involving the Bell com.
pany in this state was begun more
than a year ago and grew out OF the
demand Of the Wyoming electrical
workers for higher wages. Later all
the Montana unions afiliated with the
Cfofo Eodaro+3or ~ Taho~ hooo-. e.
volved and the strike and boycott by
the unions spread to other parts OF
Montana. Injunction suits followed
and for violation Of restraining orders
five union men were convicted in the
federal court Of contempt and SEN
fenced to Jail for terms ranging from
three to four months with fines apply
ing to two.
To Dismiss Suits.
Damage suits also were begun
against the unions. Under the terms
OF the agreement signed today all
damage suits will be dismissed, strik-
ing linemen will be restored to posi-
lions, and, outside Of Butte, where
no wage issue was involved, linemen
will be given IN advance of so cents
a day, the sum offered by the company
last year. Former telephone operators
will be reinstated, but present oper-
ators will not be removed and new
operators must Join the union.
The Agreement.
The agreement is in the nature of a
compromise IN both sides and is as
follows:
First-A contract will be entered
into for mi year in accordance with
the terms of this settlement.
second-All present operators will
be permitted to join the operators
union, where such exists, and the
union will be permitted to persuade
%peaceably any operator to- become a
member Of it's organization.
Third-Operators employed at
Butte, Helena, Great Falls, Livings-
ton, Billings and Red Lodge at the
time Of the strike, will be reinstated,
but present operators will not be re-
moved, except at the option of the
company. All new operators employ
ed at these exchanges during the life
Of the contract must join the union
Immediately after their first pay day.
No members of the operators union
shall be Disseminated against for any
acts performed during the period OF
the strike.
Miss Barnes VIII Gu.
Fourth-Miss Barnes will be re-
moved from the operating department
at Butte.
Fifth-No' CHIEF operator shall be-
long to the union. Foremen may or
may not belong to the union.
sixth-All damage suits now pend
ing, or contemplated, against any
union or unions or members thereof,
instituted by the Rocky Mountain Bell
Telephone company, or its agents,
arising from the acts of any union or
member thereof, to be dismissed, and
any suits now pending or contemplat-
ed against the aforesaid company. or
Its agents. by any union or union men,
bers, to be dismissed.
To Retnstate Linemen.
seventh-The union linemen en-
ployed by the company in Montana
previous to the strike will be rein
stated, but linemen o employed
will not be removed, except at the CD.
ton Of the company, except that in
Butte all linemen now employed who
shall not become members Of the
union shall be removed. Those line
men who have not been members OF
the union shall be given an opportu-
nifty to join said union. The company
win have no objection to any lineman
in the state Joining the union.
Mghth-Wage scale for operators to
remain the same as In force under
the agreements Of Butte, February Is,
1907: Helena. Tehrlarv % 1AnT ord