MEAT STRIKE IN U.S.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 133, 17 March 1948, Page 3

MEAT STRIKE IN U.S.

Country’s Supply Threatened 100,000 PACKING WORKERS IDLE (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright). (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, Mar. 16. . A strike of meat-packing workers for higher wages against the major United States meat-packing firms and scores of independent packers began a minute afteF midnight today.

A total, of 100,000 union workers, affiliated to the Congress of Industrial Organisations, were called out. A spokesman for the industry said that this would cut the nation’s meat supply in half. The strike was called in spite of an eleventh-hour appeal to the union by President Truman to continue working until a special board, so far not publicly, had investigated the dispute and reported to him. About 140 meat-packing firms are involved in the strike. Another message says that the pension rights strike has spread to 350,000 of the nation’s 400,000 soft coalminers to-day and brought the threat: of court action from mine owners. The employers gave the United Mineworkers’ president, Mr John L. Lewis three days to call off the strike and join them in petitioning the Federal District Court for the appointment of an arbitrator. The owners contended that the union was violating the Taft-Hartley Labour Act.

Coal production decreased by 2,000/000. tons to-day.