The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-04-18
IMPENDING STRIKE
OF TELEGRAPHERS

Having exhausted every resource
to obtain a square deal from Direct
or-General Burleson, 100000 tele-
graphers and telephone operators
will, if the referendum votes so to
do, strike throughout the United
States and Canada for a redress of
grievances. The result of the vote
will be known shortly after next
Tuesday, the 22nd, President Ko-
nenkamp says that Gin as much as
all the agencies of the Government
supposed to be used to arrest strikes
have admitted their inability to do
anything for u.s." he asks the La
Dor Press to devote some space to
the matter, so that "when the strike
does take place there will be no mis-
understanding and the blame for
what happens will be placed upon
Mr.. A. s. Burleson and his asso-
ciates, where it rightfully belongs"
President Konenk8mp has ad-
dressed the following communica-
ton:
To All Telegraph and Telephone
Workers:
Greeting: You will find attach
ed hereto a strike ballot which will
permit you to record your views
with reference to a general strike of
all telegraph and telephone work.
ers in the United States, on a date
to be set by the international offic-
ers of the Commercial Telegraph
ers' Union of America and Tele-
phone Operators Association, I'M
less the grievances outlined in this
letter are satisfactorily adjusted
before the strike is put into effect.
Your general committee appoint
ed by the October session of the
General Assembly has exhausted all
of it's efforts to bring about an adj
justment and it was the unanimous
recommendation of the members of
that committee that this vote be
taken.
A large number Of districts have
joined in demanding that this
course be taken. Various resolu-
tions have been adopted similar to
the one adopted at San Francisco,
Los Angeles, Portland and other
points, which reads;
Whereas, The Postmaster Gen
eral. acting as Director General of
the Telegraphs and Telephones, has
failed to keep his word with refer
ence to reinstatements and wages
for the commercial telegraphers
now employed under Government
control, and has refused to comply
with the National War Labor
Board, calling for the reinstatement
of these members; and
| w utl cas-, hC CuitCu bbatCc
Telegraph and Telephone Admin
istration, by its policy and its con-
duct, has shown a continued hostil-
ity toward organized labor;
Whereas, This same policy is
followed in the Postoffice Depart
ment of these United States; there
fore
BE 1t Resolved, That we do
hereby call upon the international
President of the Commercial Tele-
graphers' Union of America to take
strike vote without further delay;
BE 1t Resolved Further, That We
urgently request all other Unions
affiliated with the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, who are subject
to the Burleson policies, to take the
same course for the purpose of put
ting into effect a general strike I'M
less the United States Telegraph
and. Telephone Administration
grants the right of collective bar
gaining and representation through
duly chosen representatives of or
ganized labor, and agrees to adjust
all outstanding grievances without
further delay"
The reason for this strike vote
being necessary is because all gov
ornamental agencies appointed for
the purpose of settling industrial
disputes are unable to do anything
for us. While admitting that our
grievances are just and should be
remedied, We have been told they
could not act, because our situation
was not sufficiently acute.
The only method the workers
have of making their grievances
acute is by voting to strike without
delay unless those in authority are
ready to grant relief.
- ,,o,,,o,,, ho,oJ that ho