LONDON STRIKE CONTINUES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27489, 25 October 1954, Page 11

LONDON STRIKE CONTINUES

Workers To Hold Mass Meeting CN.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 24. One thousand of the dockers from seven key points taking part in Britain’s big dock strike will march through London today to a mass meeting in Hyde Park. Observers, however, are not optimistic about the chances of a general return to work tomorrow—and strike leaders have refused to divulge the "advice that they will give at the rally. The strike now affects 44,000 cargo handling worker*, stranding more than 300 ships, and holding up goods worth £120,000,000. Key dockers failed to respond to a back to work call today and "set back hopes that a break in Britain’s big dock strike was in sight.

The key workers—permanent men employed on a weekly basis and not day-to-day like other striking London dockers—met to consider a resolution passed by their delegates on Friday night, that they should go back to work on Monday. A favourable vote from them could have been the turning point of the three-week-old dispute which has hit seven of Britain’s main ports and stopped two-thirds of the nation’s sea trade.

But no decision was taken at the stormy meeting. The 500 men present frequently interrupted the union officials who addressed them. When the resolution was put about half raised their hands in favour, but the other half voted against it.

As the meeting broke up the permanent workers went on to another mass meeting called by the unofficial strike committee representing the dockers who are striking without union backing. At this second meeting one of the permanent men told the strikers: “They are trying to use us permanent men as a spearhead for a return to work but they will not succeed. When we go back we will all go back together with the battle won.” The port of Hamburg is estimated to have handled an extra 50,000 to 60,000 tons of goods since the British dock strike began, the port administration said today. Warning on Use of Troops

Sir Walter Monckton, the Minister of Labour, warned workers that the Government will use troops if necessary to move the goods piling up in the idle ports. He told the House of Commons: “There is no reason why this strike should go on a day longer.” The Minister was supported by Mr Alfred Probens, Minister of Labour in the previous Labour Government, who called on the men to return to work on Monday. x An 80-minute secret session aimed at breaking the strike ended in London without any signs of an early settlement in sight. The meeting between delegates of the National Association of Port Employers and the National Amalgamated Stevedores’ and Dockers’ Union, which has led the strike, was called by the three-man Government court of inquiry probing the dispute. There will be no further meeting of the inquiry until after the we«k-end, it was said. Earlier reports s that “substantial progress” had be i made. Sir Walter Monckton told the House of Commons that the Government had a paramount duty to protect the life and work of the nation.

“On this we are determined,” he said. “We have not found it necessary up to now to introduce military labour, but we will not hesitate to do so as soon as, in our judgment, it becomes necessary.” The port-by-port strike position at the week-end was:—

London.—Nearly 27,000 dockers are striking, tying up 157 ships, and 8000 ship repair workers are idle in another dispute affecting 100 more ships. Liverpool.—Nearly 10,200 strikers, with 71 ships idle, and seven undermanned. Birkenhead.—More than 1800 strikers, with 15 ships idle. Garson.—About 740 strikers and 21 ships idle.

Hull.—About 2700 strikers and 29 ships idle, with nine under-manned. Rochester. —Nearly 200 strikers, with five ships idle. Southampton.—About 1900 strikers, with 15 ships idle.

Leading cars»o shipping interests reported that even if the strike was settled soon, its effects were likely to be felt well into the New Year. Shippers commented that schedules had been . disrupted while certain cargoes had been diverted to Continental ports ranging from Spain to Germany. Many of these cargoes would have to be reshipoed eventually to Britain, which would add to the costs.