U.K. Rail Strike Leaders’ Dilemma

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30976, 4 February 1966, Page 13

U.K. Rail Strike Leaders’ Dilemma

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright).

LONDON, Feb. 3.

British Railway Union leaders were split last night over the threatened national strike after a dramatic intervention by Britain’s Economics Minister, Mr George Brown.

The executive committee of the National Union of Railwaymen voted on a motion to rescind a decision, made earlier in the day, to hold the strike, planned for February 14. The result of the vote was a tie—ll for, 11 against. Earlier, the voting had been 21 to two in favour of holding the strike. The second vote, resulting in the tie, came after a dramatic intervention by Mr Brown —believed to be an unprecedented move by a Government Minister. Minister’s Appeal He went during the evening to the union’s headquarters in London to appeal to the executive to stop the strike and spok-j to them for 45 minutes.

He stood outside a debating chamber for a further two hours, returning occasionally to answer questions.

Then he left, saying: “I have answered the questions and they are now discussing the position.” There were two absentees from the 24-man executive—and the constitution makes no provision for a casting vote. Late last night the union’s general secretary, Mr Sidney Greene, said it would be wrong to interprete the vote as a calling off of the strike I decision made earlier.

But he thought it left him free to enter into negotiations on the pay issue. He added that it appeared the strike decision still stood —but it would not be possible to carry on with one half of the executive committee wanting to go one way, the other half another.