Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-01-11
THE BELL COMPANY
STARTS new PLAN
Employees viii Be Cared For In Case
Of Accidents or sickness
Also Pensions.

On January first the Bell Telephone
Company inaugurated the pension
system the object being TO provide
for employees in ca5e of sickness and
had served the company long and
faithfully. The company and it's sub
salaries employ about 200,0 and
the management has deemed II wise
to inaugurate the system which il
believes will result in good for all
concerning.
Theodore n. Vail. president Of the
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company has sent out the following
letter 10 all employees: TO the EN-.
ployes of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company, Western Electric
Company and the Bell Telephone
Company:
The new plan of benefits for dis
ability due TO accidents or sickness,
of insurance and of pensions, goes In.
to effect with the new year.
Nearly 100000 men and women
who are now giving their best years
10 the telephone and telegraph ser
vice of the country, will ~henceforth
be assured of assistance in the ex-
igencies of life, for which all are not
able TO provide, and will also be as.
suted of a provision for their declin.
Ing years.
1t Is but natural that every employe
should desire TO assume the normal
responsibilities of life and to sur
round himself and those dependent
upon him with the things hat make
life complete and enjoyable. Unfor-
cen happenings may make these re-
sponsibilities heavy burdens, and
whatever may be put aside for the
day OF misfortune. must in the begin
ming be small and accumulated slow
ly. A realization that obligations
must be met in time of misfortune, as
well as in times of prosperity, has
merely an old age pension appear abb
solutely vital.
Employers buy and employees sell
service. Perfect service is only to be
found when fidelity and loyalty are
reciprocal in employer and employe.
II is this relationship that brings sat
isfaction and success TO both.
The intent and purpose of the EN-
ployer in establishing a plan of bene-
fits. is to give tangible expression to
the reciprocity which means faithful
and loyal service on the part of the
employee with protection from all the
ordinary misfortunes to which he is
liable; reciprocity which means mu-
tual regard for another's interest and
welfare.
This in justice, and without justice
and sympathetic interest, we cannot
hope to do a thoroughly good piece
of work,
The american Telephone and Tele-
graph Company, which centralizes
the Associated companies into one
system, with one policy for universal
service, has considered the interest of
all workers and has made a compre-
hensive plan possible. II is the add
ministrative clearing house and the
underwater of the necessary reserve
fund, upon whic. a general plan must
depend.
One illustrative instance of the FIX
ercise of these functions has been the
unifying OF the various interests so
that any employee may aspire to work
anywhere in the country with unin-
%terrupted benefits, and any company
can obtain any man it needs, without
prejudice in his welfare.
In behalf of the management of the
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company, the Western Union Tele.
graph and the Western Electric com