The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-18
TELEPHONE co. TO
ORGANIZE WORKERS
Employees Favor Plans for Els.
tablishing Association,
Bethel Says.
NO ANTI-UNION POLICY
Boston Girl Leaders to Fight
Project-Carlton Calls
Wire Strike Dead.

Confirmation OF the rumored plan OF
the American Telephone and Telegraph
Company TO meet the proposed union OF
telephone operators by establishing an
association OF employees similar to that
Of the Western Union was made yester-
day by F. II. Bethel. first vice-presidet
of the New York Telephone Company.
There will be no anti-union attitude
policy adopted by the A. T. and 7. In its
attitude toward it's employees. he said.
The statement follows:
we won't forbid our employees to
Join any union. At this date It would
be an impossible policy to adopt We
do not propose attempting to influence
our employees at ALL In the last few
days we have submitted our plans for an
association Of the A. T. and It's 10000
employees to representatives of the
workers and II has been well received.
I'm some points the various companies
have progressed further in the develop
ment OF the association than we have
here in New York. There is hardly a
telephone exchange so small but what
II has its own telephone society or
chapter of a larger society or club. In
this city there il the Telephone Society
with a clubhouse at 363 West Seven
tenth street. These various clubs and
societies will form the basic machinery
through which we will form the larger
association OF employees.
Plan for Association.
Through our various benefit plans We
have come In direct contact with our
various employees and we offer them
this association as a substitute for out
side unions, and propose that we deal
with them collectively and settle any
grievances they may have through this
association. II any group OF employees
wishes an increase in wages, 1t will ask
its representatives in the association,
elected by the workers, to take the mat
ter up with us, stating the reason for the
requested salary increa sess
"The officers will be elected by the
employees and will attend to their asso-
| citation business at our expense, devot-
ing as much time as is necessary to II
without any deduction in salary.
THE plan Is to have the association
include all of our 100000 employees,
men and women. II will take the place
| of any outside union. we have no
quarrel with Miss May Matthews. but
1 don't think she will have any success.
Tho company will place no obstacles
! in her path. however, for she will have
trouble enough without any opposition
from US.
There Is no unrest among our en-
ployees. During all my years IN the
telephone business / have never had to
| meet delegation of employees that
wished to present any grievances
The only trouble with this plan, &C.
| cording to Miss May Matthews. the
Boston girl who is here organizing eve
telephone operators into a union. Is that
| the American Telephone and Telegraph
Company has a traditional habit OF
pigeon holing requests for increases and
changes In working conditions. That IL
how the Boston girls were forced TO
| strike. she said. ; ., ss
Girl Leaders Arc Active.
Miss Julia O'Cor nor. head OF the Hos.
| ton telephone girls. will arrive here to-
day and Join Miss Mathews in the fight
to organize the telephone operators
They are two OF the best women or
ganizers in the country, and the race
between them and the company TO win
the girls should be interesting. Mean
while the company cannot discriminate
against the girls who join the organiza-
ton because OF Postmaster-General
BQrleson's order against such action.
The telegraph strike in New York re-
manned ut a standstill yesterday, with
only eight more operators Joining the
strikers. Percy Thomas. deputy inter
national president OF the Commercial
Telegraphers Union. left for Atlantic
City last night to confer with labor
leaders at the American Federation OF
Labor convention. 1t Is planned to place
the telegraphers' demand before Presi-
dent Wilson together with a condemna-
ton of Mr.. Burleson for his failure TO
recognize the union.
Newcomb Carlton, president of the
y-f4 a a u
general manager of the Postal Tele-
graph. declared yesterday that the strike
Is dead and that there is no interference
in the clear service.