In May 1907 , the CTUA presented Western Union with a " Bill of Grievances , " alleging that the company had failed to grant the promised ten percent raise , and that the company was singling out union members for harassment . However , the telegraph company largely ignored the bill of grievances and continued to discharge employees for union activities . Telegraphers in San Francisco went on strike in June 1907 after Western Union rejected their demand for a 25 % increase in salary , in part to compensate them for increased living expenses brought about by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake . U.S. Labor Bureau Commissioner Charles P. Neill negotiated a settlement with Western Union and the CTUA in July in which Western Union agreed to re-employ the striking workers and discuss wage increases . Although the strike appeared to be nearing an end , it suddenly erupted into a nationwide walkout when Western Union fired a union operator who had refused to work with a nonunion woman operator hired during the strike to replace one of the strikers . Although caught by surprise by the spontaneous strike , CTUA president Samuel J. Small authorized the action on August 15 , 1907 . Between 10,000 and 15,000 operators joined the strike as it spread across the entire U.S
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Commercial Telegraphers Union of America