The Washington herald., 1919-06-03

The walkout of wire workers at
Atlanta is a forerunner of a nation
wide strike. unless their demand for
the reinstatement of discharged
members of the union is granted
by the Southern Bell Telephone
and Telegraph Company"
This statement was made by
President s j. Konenkamp. of the
Commercial Telegraphers' Union OF
America. in an interview with a
representative of The Washington
Herald at the National Hotel last
night.
speedy Settlement Urged.
while the Atlanta situation at
present only affects the employees OF
the Southern Bell Telephone and
Telegraph Company.- he said. "un-
less some satisfactory adjustment q
their dificufties can be found the
national organization will be forced
to take action"
President Konenkamp arrived in
Washington yesterday morning from
Montreal. to consult with Postmas-
ter General A. S Burleson in regard
TO the Atlanta strike and its prob
able national effects. He said last
night that ne would remain here a
few days to watch developments.
Unions Not Satisfied.
II is understood that some form OF
settlement has been offered by post
office authorities in control of wire
systems. but that so far they have
failed to submit a plan satisfactory
TO the unions.
President Konenkamp said union
leaders in Atlanta had been dis
charged on a pretext Of incompetency
and then tried on charges made after
their release from duty.
..It is common Justice" he said
..thaJ the trial should precede the
punishment-and we hold that the
company's failure to observe this
principle is proof of their discrimina-
tion against union workers. a direct
violation of Bulletin No. 3 of the
Postofice Department"
Electrical workers Approve.
The Atlanta strike has been ap-
proved by the National Electrical
Workers Union, and Atlanta tele-
phone members of that organization
are understood to be striking with
the members of the operators union.
The electrical and telegraphers
unions have had for several years
jurisdiction over telephone workers.
Washington wire system workeT-
have approved the action of the At
Ianta organization and are awaiting
developments there before taking any
steps toward voting a walkout here.
The Southern Bell Telephone and
telegraph Company extends from
Norfolk TO New Orleans and from At
Ianta to Jacksonville. So far only the
Atlanta workers are known to be
out" but President Konenkamp said
last night he had heard that the
Jacksonville organization either had
struck or was on the verge of strik-
ing.
BurIeson States Position.
Postmaster General Burleson issued
this statement:
s.It is claimed by certain of the en-
ployes of the Southern Bell Telephone
company at Atlanta that they have
been discharged in violation of the
Postmaster Generals order of Oc-
tober ,. 1918, that no employe should
he disseminated against because of
union Affiliations. II is asserted by
the manager Of the telephone COM
pany that no employe has been dis
charged for such reason. Instruc-
tions were issued last week to the
nostoffice inspector in charge at At
anita to ascertain the true facts.
IF any employe of the telephone
,ompany at Atlanta has been dis
charged because of union affiliations.
orders will be at once issued for the
reinstatement of such employe or en-
ployes. with full pay from the date
Of such discharge. and steps will be
taken to discipline the supervisory
telephone Official who has been guilty
Of t. violation Of the order of October
4 1sis. No action will be taken by
the Postmaster General until the facts
are known
'.It may be asserted that dismissals
have not been made In such numbers
az stated in the press"
| Atlanta. Ca, June AT four
! o'clock this afternoon Atlanta's five
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