Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-04-15
BOTH SIDES FIRM
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bOlH O1OCO II 1EkVl
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for the settlement of disputes
when his department took over
the telephone lines. The OPP
orators maintain that they
have been unable to get any
satisfaction from the postmas-
ter general.
Business interests. as well as pri-
vate telephone users. will be serious
" affected if the operators respond
generally 20 the strike call. Operators
in the federal building have been
ordered by union officials to remain
at their posts.
Late tonight Miss Julia S. O'Con-
nor, president Of the telephone oper-
ators' department, issued a lengthy
statement detailing the experiences
of teh OPERATOR since the wires were
taken over by tn. government.
"A committee" said the statement,
shortly after Postmaster General
Burleson took charge of the wires,
went to Washington to explain to
him the system of collective bar
gaining that had prevailed in New
England for the past seven years. A
promise was given by Mr.. Burleson
that no change IN the system would
be made by the postof1ice department.
In October, 1918, a wage schedule
was presented to William r. Driver.
Jr., general manager of the New
England Telephone & Telegraph Co.
The committee was informed by Mr..
Driver that he mad no power TO act
on wage scales, and he referred the
committee to the postoffice depart
ment in Washington.
1.-The committee went to Washing
ton ard succeeded in presenting the
schedule to the Ryan Commission
which claimed to have jurisdiction
over the wage increase. At this time
they were not referred to the Wire
Control Board.
"A number OF months elapsed and
no reply was received from Wash
ington as to what was being done
about the wage schedule.
Repeated efforts on the part of
the local committe and myself, act
ing as a member of the Ryan Com
mission having .,een appointed by
Mr.. Burleson to represent the tele-
phone and telegraph operators. fall
ed to obtain any information. The
uselessness of this commission and
it's inactivity in doing anything for
the workers resulted in my resigna-
ton being sent to Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson on Jan. IS, 1919
LAS a result of the failure Of any
company or government official to
give any information or satisfaction
about the wage scale. the president of
the International of the Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers was called to
this city and the matter laid before
him. The case was taken up by the
International officials and as no salts
faction was received by them sane
ton was given the telephone opera
tors of New England to vote on the
question os strike. This vote was
polled on February &c. and the senti-
ment expressed by the operators was
Overwhelmingly in favor Of a strike.
''On February 2sth. telegram was
sent to President Wilson notifying
him Of the strike action and request
ing a conference for committee and
assistance in preventing a strike. On
March /. Mr.. Tumulty,. secretary to
the President, sent a letter to me,
telling me that my telegram had been
his time being all mortgaged for his
brief stay in this country, he could
not meet a committee but he would
take the matter up with Postmaster
general Burleson.
THE officers Of the u:;,. again
took the matter up with Secretary
Wilson Of the Department of Labor
and other officials. all of whom ex-
pressed their sympathy, but went no
further.
"A committee from the New Eng
land joint council. with the members
of the adjustment board of the Bos-
ton Operators Union, again went to
Mr.. Driver and asked him to do some
thing. He refused because Of his
lack OF authority.
LAS a result of this report, the ad-
justment board of the Boston Oper-
ators' Union went to Washington to
interview Mr.. Burleson. He received
their complaint and told them that
the matter would be given considera-
ton and they would hear from ii in a
few days.
ION April II, at a special meeting
Of the New England Joint Council of
Telephone Workers it was voted 10
send a special committee to Mr.. Driv-
er and learn what his attitude was On
the wage scale. AT this meeting Mr..
Driver told the committee that he had
the power to act, but refused to re-
commend the wage scale to the OPP
Grating board Of the Wire Administra-
ton.
ION April 4 the members of the union
we're told that no answer had been re-
ceived from Mr.. Burleson. Miss Helen
Moran of Lowell, a member of the
committee that met Mr.. Burleson. re-
ceved letter under date of April Z
from J. c. Rooms, first assistant post
master general, informing her that the
complaint filed by the committee was
being investigated and that decision
would be handed down within a few
days.
ION April 10 Miss Mary e. June,
chairman of the Boston Operators
Union adjustment board, received a tel
egram signed by Mr.. BurIeson asking