STRIKE IN THE SHIP YARDS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9281, 5 December 1895, Page 6

STRIKE IN THE SHIP YARDS.

, The great shipbuilding strike at Belfast and on the Clyde is troubling the British mind, especially at the present time when naval preparations are most important. Many engineers are idle on the Clyde and at Belfast. The yards on the Clyde include Barclays, Hendersons, J. and G. Thompsons, and the Fairfield Company. The men claim that they can hold ont for ten years, if necessary, as the Society has £200,000 in funds, and by a levy of 6d weekly on each member the officers of the Sooiety can give the strikers £1 weekly as long as the strike may last. One important feature oonneoted with tha strike is the delay in naval work. (The Press calls upon the Government to interfere as a national necessity under the circumstances, and it is statein Belfast, that the masters there have received a forcible intimation from Government that the trade difficulties must be settled as speedily as possible. The Clyde shipbuilders posted notices on November sth, whioh looked out 25 per cent, of the employees in their yards. This precipitated the break, whioh has been long expected as % result of the difficulty in the Belfast Shipyards, and begun the big strike in several yards. AU the remaining men struck upon the announcement of the lock-out. Much resentment is manifested at the action of the Companies. Only members of the Union were locked out. The Companies announced, when the strike ■was first threatened, that they would look ont gradually after the strike began.