Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-08
POSTAL COMPANy'S
SYSTEM Affected
BY UN|ON|ST STRIKE.
Konenkamp Plans Tie-Up
of All Wire Lines
in Nation.
MORE THAN $4,000 MEN
AND WOMEN ARE INVOLVED.
Canadian Operators Will Refuse
to Handle Commercial Mes -
sages for u. S.
RAILROADERS ALSO WILL AIp
Employees Seek Recognition as
Organization and Increased Wages i
for Their Labor. :"
RAILRoADERs ALSO WILL AID
tBy Associated Press. \

CHICAGO, June "A nation wide
strike Of telegraph and telephone
operators, who are members of the
Commercial Photographers Union OF
America. was ordered today to take
effect next Wednesday morning at IS
a. NJ. standard time. The order was
issued at general headquarters Of the
union here on Geographic instructions
from S. j. Konenkamp, international
president, who was in Pittsburgh on
his way to Chicago. ~.
The strike order applies TO en-
ployees OF the Western Union Teie45.
graph Company. the American Tele-i'
phone and Telegraph Company. and
the Postal Telegraph and Cable COM;
1t was estimated at headquartersS
here that the strike would affect be.
tween 10000 and 100000 individdaIsS:
OF whom nearly $4,000 were said to-
be members of the union. Outside of
the union ranks, it was said, many
wire workers had pledged themselves,
! TO support strike. ', az,
Follows Atlanta Trouble. 5yi,lgi
! The decision to call a nation-wide
Konenkamp: after spending sey sesss
days days In washt,inston where he had
in ten Southeastern States Tact
strike followed a strike or tele phone
workers in Atlanta where telephone.
charged because OF union affiliations.
although the southern Bell Telephone
Company denied union membership
A strike vote was taken recently
concurrently with one by the Inter
Ths a,rs orssr WoEksss Tnisa
"All telegraph and telephone en-
ployees: ~
"A strike is hereby declared to take
erect Wednesday. June IL, 1919, at
a. Nj standard time
Western Union Telegraph Company.
he American telegraph and Telephone
Gable Company with Its associated in-$
stitutions including the Mackay and
North american American Companies. and
our members are employed. -
.'S. j. KONENKAMP,
Hlnternational Presidency
Canadians VIII Aid.
Accompanying the strike order were
ployed by concerns not affected by
the order to aid In making the strike
effective; This; it was explained, meant
would refuse TO handle telegraph and
telephone messages classed as com-
mercial business.
was said. would refuse to handle any
commercial business originating in the
United States or directed to any point
within this country. ~
Railway telegraphers also would re-
fuse TO handle commercial business, 1t
was declared. as a result of passage
or resolution at the recent conv emit Ion Z
or railway telegraphers in st. LouiS
declaring that such business would be
banned by employees of the organiza-.s;;
ton in the event OF strike. ~
Seek Union Recognition. SO
In Chicago. 1t was said at union.
Headquarters. more than 1000 wire
workers would be affected. as
The Commercial Telegraphers1 Unioh
was born here In 1907 President
konenkamp declared weeks ago that
Postmaster-General Burleson, who had
taken over control OF the wire sys-
TENS. had refused to grant the en-
ploSees increased wages demanded and J
that unless the union was recognized (,
and the men given relief from the
hign cost or living strike would be =
inevitable.
Mr. konenkamp will return here tar
morrow to direct the strike