Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-11
OTTUMWA TELEPHONE COM
PANY'S REFUSAL CAUSES
WALKOUT.
ENGLAND IN INTERVIEW
Over Twenty Union Operators DroE
Their Receivers at 9 o'clock
President Urick Will Take
Charge Tomorrow.


went on a strike at o'clock this
morning because the company would
not consent to closed shop. At SIS
o'clock the union operators notified
Manager F. K. England of the com
pany that they would walk out at .
o'clock and when the clock IN the court
house tower tolled out the hour, the
eleven union operators who were at
the boards, left their seats and filed
out into the streets. The remaining
union operators who went on at dit
ferent periods during the day were
notified and remained away from
work. The service was crippled some
what by. the walkout..
The toll operators and dozen
or more operators who had signed Il
contract with the company not to JOIN
the union, handled the switch board.
BY the strike, the south side exchange
Of the company Wah put out OF bust
ness and residents of South OttumWa
had to do without telephone service
during the morning hours. The serV'
ice was resumed in the afternoon.
Wanted Closed Shop.
The wage scale did not enter into
tie strike as that question could have
been easily solved, according to the
striking operators and Manager Eng
land. The union operators in their
agreement which they asked the tele'
phone company to sign, have clause
for a closed shop which states that no
girl who is not a member of the union,
or who is not willing to join, shall be
employed. The company wanted the
exchange run as an open shop, with
half union operators and half non
union operators.
Negotiations between the union op.
orators and the telephone company in
regard to the signing of the agreement
naming an increase in wages and a
closed shop. have been in progress for
some time. The wage scale had moth
ing to do with the strike. however,
as that clause of the agreement could
have been easily cared for, but the
closed shop was the bone of conten.
ton.
The operators union was organized
during June and is affiliated with the
Ottumwa Trades and Labor Assembly
and the American Federation OF In
Dor The Trades and Labor assembly
will assist the striking girls in their
trouble unless settlement is made be-
tween the operators and the company.
Miss Anna Campbell is president of
the telephone operators and Miss Dora
Hendricks is secretary.
President Urick to Come.
A. l.. Trick Of Des Moines. presi-
dent OF the Iowa State Federation OF
Labor. is expected in the city this
afternoon or tomorrow morning to
take charge of the strike situation for
the girls. While the striking operators
did no picket duty, they Informed
members of the union who did not
know the strike was in progress that
they were out, when they came to
work.
England Gives Interview.
Manager England in an interview
this morning stated that the differ
ences between the union operators and
the telephone company were over the
closed and open shop. "A conference
between the manager of this company
and representatives of the operators
union was held last night stated Mr..
England.
"The representatives of the union
declined further to consider the pro-
posed scale without the clause making
it a union shop, and closed against
non.union girls. The company took the
position that we were not willing to
say we would discharge competent op'
orators because they would not choose
to join the union. Inasmuch as there
are no union operators in the state
from which we might get employees
we might be in dire need of operators
and vet be forced to discharge compe
tent girls because they decline to be-
come members of the union. The com
pany is willing to meet its operators
upon fair terms in regard to the wage
question. Upon my recent trip to
Cleveland for the purpose Of consruta
ton with the officers Of the company
was instructed to put into force
wage scale that would compare favor
ably with that of other companies op
Grating under approximately the same
conditions We sent letters OF inquiry
to twenty different exchanges. re
uuesting information as to wages paid
and working conditions. We received
replies from the Independent and Bel
exchanges at Creston, Fort Dodge
Council Bluffs. Cedar Rapids, Oska
loosa. Marshalltown, Des Moines, Bur
lirgton and Quincy, ILL., Some of these
exchanges are larger and some not sc
large as our exchange. but were the
best comparisons we could get we
find that we have been paying very
close to average wages paid In these
exchanges.
"Whi}e the operators left on sudden
notice this morning. we were handi
capped, and the south side exchange
had to be abandoned during the morn
ing. but 1t is being operated this
afternoon. We have secured the serv
ices Of several old operators who have
left our employ and who are filling
in the places of the girls who have
left. We expect to fight aud don''
know when the matter will be set
ted
The funeral will he held tomorrow al