RAILWAY STRIKE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27636, 18 April 1955, Page 11

RAILWAY STRIKE

Threat By

Drivers

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, April 16. Britain, already hard-hit by a newspaper strike, today faced the prospect of a nationwide railway stoppage in a fortnight. The newspaper strikers—l7oo maintenance mechanics and electricians—at a mass meeting today voted unanimously to continue their 23-day old stoppage and Railway Union chiefs issued a strike ultimatum effective at midnight on May 1. The leaders of 80,0000 train drivers and firemen have called the strike in support of a pay claim. Yesterday, the Railways Wage Negotiating Tribunal rejected the union’s claim for an all-round increase of 8s a week. On January 13 the tribunal offered increases of from Is 6d to 5s 6d according to gradings. This is Britain’s second threatened railway stoppage this year. Another union, the National Union of Railwaymen, representing lowerpaid workers, summoned a strike of its 400.000 members on January 9. This was called off a few days before it was due to start after prolonged talks at the Ministry of Labour. Newspaper Strike The newspaper strikers today reaffirmed the rank and file’s confidence in their leaders, and deplored the attitude of the newspaper proprietors in “continually refusing to negotiate an amicable settlement of their wage claim.” There was also a threat that the strike would spread to the British Broadcasting Corporation’s television service.

One of the two striking unions—the Communist-led Electrical Trades Union—said that its 40 members in the 8.8. C. will “work to the rule” from midnight tonight to press their demand for official recognition. Agreement on recognition of -the E.T.U. at the 8.8. C. has failed because the union refuses to accept the corporation’s desire to settle all disputes by arbitration. The slow-down at the 8.8. C. may interfere with television programmes, but it is unlikely to affect sound broadcasting—the chief news source these days for Londoners.