The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-08
ALL WIREMEN IN
NATION CALLED
OUT ON JUNE II
Western Union, American
Telephone and Postal
Named in Order.
TIME is SET FOR 8 A. NJ.
Telegraph Officials Not Much
Worried-Claims of Opera
tors Are Disputed.

CHICAGO. June "A nationwide
strike Of telegraph and telephone op-
orators who are members Of the Com
mercial Telegraphers Union of Amer
lea was ordered to-day to take effect
next Wednesday morning at o'clock
standard time. The order was issued
at general headquarters of the union
here on telegraphic instructions from
s. ]. konenkamp, international presi-
dent, who was in Pittsburg on his way
to Chicago.
The strike order applies to en-
ployees OF the Western Union Tele-
graph Company, the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company and
the Postal Telegraph and Cable Com
pany, with its associated institutions
1t was estimated at headquarters
here that the strike would AFFECT be-
tween $4,000 and 100, 900 individuals, of
whom nearly $4,000 were said to be
members Of the union. Outside of the
union ranks, it was said, many wire
workers had pledged themselves to
support a strike.
Follows Visit at Capital.
The decision to call a nationwide strike
was reached by President Konenkamp
after spending several days In WASH
ington, where he had directed a strike
Of union employees in eleven Southeast
ern States. That strike followed strike
n In x.,ha
telephone employees were said to have
been discharged because of union aftilia-
tons. although the Southern Bell Tele-
phone Company denied union member
ship had been the basis of any dis
charges
A strike vote was taken recently con-
current with one by the International
Electrical Workers Union.
The strike order was as follows:
"All telegraph and telephone en-
ployees:
"A strike is hereby declared to take
effect Wednesday, June II. 1919, at 8
A. NJ. standard time. against the West
ern Union Telegraph Company. the
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company. the Postal Telegraph and
Gable Company. with it's associated In
stitutions, including the Mackay and
North American companies. and against
telephone companies where our members
are employed.
IS. ]. KoHENKAMP,
International President"
Accompanying the strike order were
lengthy instructions to members EN-
ployed by concerns not affected by the
order to aid in making the strike effect
i've.
This, It was explained, meant that
such employees OF other concerns would
refuse to handle telegraph and telephone
messages classed as commercial busi-
ness.
Canadians to Ban Messages.
Canadian members of the union, II
was said would refuse to handle any
commercial business originating in the
United States or directed to any point
within this country.
Railway telegraphers also would re-
fuse to handle commercial business. 1,
was declared, as a result of passage oi
q resolution at the recent convention
OF the Order of Railway Telegrapherl
in ST. Louis. declaring that such bust
ness would be banned by employees ot
that organization in the event of q
strike.
In Chicago, it was said at union head
quarters, more than 1000 wire workers
would be affected.
The Commercial Telegraphers Cnioi
was born here in 1902. President
Konenkamp declared weeks ago that
Postmaster-General Burleson. who had
taken over control of the wire systems
had refused to grant to the employees
increased wages demanded and that un'
less the union was recognized and the
men obtained relief from the high cost
OF living a strike would be inevitable
Mr.. Konenkamp will return Tomorrow
to direct the strike.