SWEDISH STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 626, 1 October 1909, Page 7

SWEDISH STRIKE.

'• ..; \'r ';.V'' ;.;V: GOVERNMENT MEDIATION FAILS. " ? ; '(By Telegraph-Press;Associatfon-Copjright.r , ; ... • Stockholm,i Scptembor: 29.:,! .... The Swedish' Government's 'ncgbtiatibns; tween tho employers 1 association and the trades union to'bring about an end of tho great strike failed. ' . Sixty thousand men nro still idle. Tho failure to settle tho dispute will entail much suffering. : .-' -'' -

HOW THE DISPUTE GREW. ■ Tho great labour conflict in • Sweden-arose' direotly opt of as series of disputes, each of which waa deemed in itself to be of comparatively ■ small importance, and not to'warrant tho outbreak of a\ general labour war; The original disputes were in the paper pulp industry, in the iron and. stoel manufacturing, in tho tailoring, and on© or two other •trades,. A demand by„the men iii the paper, pulp' indus-; try.. for" an' eight!" hours'. •• day and "'increased wages led . to. a limited" strike, and tho employers retaliated with a general lock-out., The other disputes passed , through 'similar stages of strike and lock-out, until at the beginning of August a general strike—a real war between capital and labour, was in progress. .'.-A correspondicnt- writes:— -. - 1 "It is evident that these local conflicts were not in- themselves of a character to. justify-either-a general lock-out or a: general strike. But they came after a.'series of: labour disputes ■ lasting over several' years, which have to a very regrettable degree Worked against industrial stability and prosperity. Tho employers declare they have been forced to take extreme measures.; It was' necessary to establish principles in, the dealings, between, employers and employees.- . Workmen' 1 had to be shown tho necessity ..of keeping .their agreements and contracts, of complying, with, decisions acoepted by theeir . central .organisation; of adapting their demands . for' Wages; to., tho state! of trade, and of allowing employers', the right of. conducting and' apportioning work and. choosing 'foremen without interference. "The men', on their side, contend that their employers aro aiming at .breaking lip their organisations and are trying to undo their long and laborious work for the edioation'and for the econoniio and political' liberation of tho labouring olasses; In ordor to frustrate such an attaok, tliey plead that'they"ate" justified' oven in breaking existing. t contracts.:._.Tliis.j». tho position of tno compositors who have 1 gone on' strike, although their contracts prohibit strikes, as, well as i lock-outs." '. •. . ■