The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-29
Trouble Caused By
 Union AffiIiation
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 In talking of the situation today to a. Times representative, Miss Sulli- van, organizer, said: The rumor that Miss Keefe called other opera tors yellow dogs is untrue and un- founded. Miss Keefe has been in the employ Of the concern for a number of years and is one of the best oper- atOrs, not only in performance of duty. but in character. The trouble started only because the officials of the Telephone company are against a union of this kind and have been try ing hard to discourage it's organiza- ton.
 If they would only try and under stand what this union means to. the girls, probably they would affiliate themselves to the principles. It is simply system of collective bar gaining. The girls are certain of their position and demand proper payment for the work. President Wilson had endorsed the movement which has spread with an almost overwhelming success all through the New England states,
 Asked If the officials at the com pany knew of the organization, Miss Sullivan laughed and said, '"Why, MT. Sanderson has been extended an invi- tation to attend the second meeting of the union and the statement that he was not aware of the organization Is rather amusing"
 '"The chief operators have attended the meetings also. and every one at the exchange knew Of it's existence.
 Tt would seem, though, that if open methods were not appreciated by the Southern New England Tele- phone Company, as it seems to dis band the union at any cost We have not only this situation in Bridgeport, but the same is true in Hartford where the girls have been in the em- ploy of the company for ten years, and have been dismissed for minor offenses. While it is true that the non-union girls were dismissed in Hartford also, they were later taken back to work, but the union girls were shut out.
 My own years of experience with the telephone company makes mo realize that while higher officials seem very fair, executives under them take their orders from up above, I regret to say that I have been shad- owed constantly by representatives of the Southern New England Company
  looked after by them.
 "Regarding Miss Woodkzortfl's dis missa.l, I can say that it is @ we'll known fact, as any chief operator will agree, that if you observe long enough at the most perfect operator, Seu will find Irregularities While girls in the Southern New England Telephone company are paid very well, at present, other conditions are far from satisfactory. The girls are questioned so closely when a. union is started that many girls play safe by keeping out of the union until the excitement is over
 '"The girls are not on strike, they are only unnerved," she concluded. and we shall hold a special meeting on Monday for the two discharged girls when action will be taken to have them reinstated.
 The four girls who resigned are 1 Miss Ethel Keefe, Miss Lillian Good fellow, Miss Eva Banks and Miss Julia Bryant. They were question ed so closely by telephone officials that they were compelled to resign. Miss Sullivan came here last night cancelling an appointment at Bos- ton. She advised Miss Julia O'Con- ] nor, president of the Telephone Op- orators Union, of the situation, this | morning. Miss Sullivan is very ar dent in her work and is certain that after the matter has subsi1ed, the l officials will agree that the union is no cause for alarm to their concern and that it will be better for the con cern when the gfrlssare organized an6 work in harmony.