Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1919-06-27
SOON SETTLED
Trouble Between Newark Telephone
Co. and Linemen Adjusted-Men
Return to Work Tuesday

A compromise was effected be-
tween the striking employees of the
Newark Telephone Co. and the man
agement on Monday evening which
is entirely satisfactory to both parties
and the men returned to work Tues
day morning. They had been out
about a week and the settlement of
the difficulties will be good news to
telephone subscribers who were in
constant dread Of their phone going
bad when there was no hope for its
repair.
According to the agreement reach
ed Monday evening the men will re-
ceive the 20 per cent increase from
June l, which will continue so long
as the company is allowed to collect
the present rate for phone service.
In addition they will also receive 10
per cent of the wages paid during
April and May.
While control of the business Of tel
ephone companies has been surrender
ed by the Government, the present
phone rentals will be in force until
about November /, so the increase
granted is assured to that date, from
which time the excess will again be
placed in the escrow fund when the
20 per cent increase ceases until the
final disposition of the court. Should
the money be awarded to the tele-
phone company the increase is auto
matically effective and the men re-
ceive the advance during the time
covered by court proceedings.
The wage agreement between the
Telephone company and its employees
expired April 1st, at which time,
owing to government control, new
agreement was not permissible.
Later, when the right of labor organ
izations was recognized by the Post
master General the following order
under date of June IA, permitting
collective bargaining was issued
Order No. 32O9
Employees Of telephone companies
shall have the right to bargain as
individuals or collectively through
committees or their representatives
chosen by them to act for them.
Where prior to Government control
a company dealt with representatives
chosen by the employees to act for
them who were not in the employ Of
the company, they shall hereafter do
so. The telephone companies shall
designate one or more Of its officials
who shall be authorized to deal with
such individuals or representatives In
matters of better conditions of labor
hours of employment, compensation
OF grievances, and such matters must
be taken up for consideration within
five days after presentation.
Such employees shall have the right
to organize or to affiliate with organ
izations that seem to them best cal
culated to serve their interest, and no
employee shall be discharged, de-
NOTED or otherwise Disseminated
against because of membership in
any such organization, as prescribed
in Bulletin No. 9, issued by me, dated
October 2, 1918. In case of dis
missal, demotion or undesirable
transfer of employee where no real
cause is shown by company for said
dismissal, demotion or undesirable
transfer it shall be considered that
discrimination was practiced and up
on such finding the employee shall be
reinstated to former position with
full pay for time lost or shall be re-
imbursed for any loss sustained by
reason Of demotion or transfer
Inability or refusal to perform '
the regular work Of position occupied !
by them, excessive use Of intoxicants,
dishonesty, incivility to subscribers
or the public shall be considered suf- :
ficient cause for dismissal.
Where requests or demands are
now pending the telephone companies
shall Immediately proceed to nego-
tiate a settlement.
All telephone companies are here
by directed to comply strictly with
the requirements of this order, and
failure to do so on the part of any
official will result in disciplinary
action.
(Signed) A. S. BURLESON,
Postmaster General.
S. C. Alsdorf, the business agent
of the Electrical Workers, who has
had the situation in charge during
L. l. .4n4 4I1,4 L.