The Washington herald., 1919-01-13


telephone workers of the District of
Columbia and the United States.
Increase Decrease.
The meeting was well attended
and included representatives from
the women employees of the tele-
phone system and from the Central
Labor Union. President NJ. T. Eglin.
of Division No. "a, presided.
President Eglin stated the object
of the meeting as being for the pur-
pose of protesting against the al
legged increase of wages awarded by
Director of Wire Communications
Burleson. 1T is not an increase"
he declared but a substantial de-
crease Heretofore the employees
have been allowed time and a half
for Sunday work. but under this
award they are compelled to work
straight time Sunday"
EiEht-Hour Day Demanded.
The mass meeting also went on
record as demanding an eight-hour
day and a substantial increase in
salary commensurate with the in
creased cost of living, and the re-
instatement of several hundred en-
pIoyes who were discharged for
union affiliation prior to or after
the taking over OF the wire control
by the government.
Following is the text OF the resolu-
tion adopted:
Text of Resolution.
Whereas, Director of Wire Com
municatiOns Burleson has issued an
order which purports to be an in
crease in wages to telephone, tele-
graph and electrical workers, but in
reality is a substantial decrease COM
pared to the basis upon which we
were paid under private ownership of
the wire systems: and.
Whereas, in submitting our griev-
anCes and request for increased pay
TO the wage commission appointed by
| Mr.. Burleson for that purpose. We
presented Clear-cut facts and data. ia
an effort to be fair to all employees of
each and every company, regardless
of affiliations; and.
Whereas, the Association of West
| ern Union Employees, fathered by
Newcomb Carleton. president of the
| Western Union Telegraph Company.
organized in the interests and abso-
lutely dominated by officers OF that
company, but which does not pretend
to represent any employees of other
communication companies, nor all of
| its own, also presented a wage scale
] to said wage board; and,
Whereas, the wage scale presented
by the Association OF Western Union
Employees was practically adopted as
a whole, which is not only outrage
ously unfair to employees OF other
! telegraph companies but also to the
| Western Union employees; and,
! Whereas, 1t is the sense of this
body that not only this decision was
unduly influenced but the policy Of
| the entire wire communication sys-
| tenn is being dictated by President
| Carleton, who, before the government
took control, insolently defied the
I President of the United States, the
/ National War Labor Board, and the
government as a whole, in his open
| refusal to cooperate during the
war. Therefore, be it
! Resolved, That District Council,
. No. "a. Commercial Telegraphers'
| Union Of America in regular meet
! ing assem- mbled, demand that we be
| granted without further delay the
| eight-hour day; a substantial in
/ NtGdSe III with
the increased cost of living, which
| is conservatively estimated to be
| about 100 per cent, since the begin
ming of the war; the reinstatement
/ of several hundred of our brothers
and sisters, who were discharged
for union affiliation prior to or af-
1 ter the taking over of the telegraph
| by the government, and be it fur
| ther
Resolved, That a copy of this res
| olution be mailed to the President
of the United States. to the National
| War Labor Board. to the Congress
| of the United States. and all labor
organizations and their publications
| to the end that such action, as may
/ be deemed necessary to bring about
/ the concessions to which we are
| justly entitled, be taken.