STRIKE TALKS FAIL

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27683, 13 June 1955, Page 11

STRIKE TALKS FAIL

Labour Minister’s Peace Call

(Rec. 9 p.m.)

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, June 11.

/o . Y* , urge A ” t pe , ace ? all b y the Minister of Labour (S ,r yv alter Monckton) today failed to break the deadlock m Britain’s two-week-old rail strike.

Britons, who had pinned their hopes on a week-end settlement, were plunged into gloom when peace talks between railway executives and the strikers’ leaders were adjourned this afternoon until Monday.

The Minister of Labour had been called in when the negotiations ran into serious difficulties. After 40 minutes he left the meeting and said: “I am seeing them again but not today.

For the last three days officers of the Transport Commission and strike leaders have been locked in hard bargaining.

The strike leaders, representing 70.000 engine-drivers and firemen, are dissatisfied with proposals by the Transport Commission, which runs the State-owned railways, to deal with their claim for more pay. Earlier today hopes of settlement had risen with the prospect of all three parties in the dispute—the two rail unions and the commission—sitting down together for the first time in an attempt to hammer out a peace formula. But the round-the-table meeting did not materialise. Mr Jim Campbell, the leader of the National Union of Railwaymen, which opposes the stoppage, said it was time all three got together. Mr Jim Baty, the leader of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, said, after the meeting today, that the British Transport Commission’s proposals were unacceptable. Dock Strike Outlook The outlook was just as gloomy in Britain’s other major industrial dispute—the strike by 19,000 dockers in seven ports now in its twentieth day. Their union, the National Amalgamated Stevedores’ and Dockers’ Union, is claiming the right to negotiate with employers in ports outside London which is now the prerogative of the much larger Transport and General Workers’ Union. Talks by the dockers’ leaders for a settlement had been adjourned until Tuesday. Although the rail strike has caused a serious dislocation, the worst fears expressed when it began two weeks ago have not so far been realised.

The country is marvelling at the way firms have adapted themselves to the emergency. Only about 4500 men have been thrown out of work. Many firms who had told their workers they would have to go have found they could keep going on reserve stocks and the arrival of unexpected freight trains. More than 7800 trains ran today, the highest figure yet reached.

Sir Walter Monckton has postponed his scheduled departure for Geneva because of the strike situation. He is due to take part in the International Labour Organisation meeting at Geneva next week. Two Liners Leave

Two trans-Atlantic liners tonight beat the Wildcat strike of seamen which began 11 days ago. The 7437ton Furness Withy liner. Newfoundland, left Liverpool for Novia Scotia, carrying the 30 passengers who embarked a week ago. The 7420-ton Booth Line steamer. Hilary, left on time for the Amazon —the first departures of passenger ships from the port since the beginning of June, but six Atlantic liners are still held up in Liverpool and Southampton.