STRIKE ON THE SOUTHERN RAILWAYS.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 74, 26 September 1881, Page 2

STRIKE ON THE SOUTHERN RAILWAYS.

I UNITED PEKBB ASSOCIATION. I Chbistchuech, 25th September. The artizana e% the Kaiiway workshops at Addiugton struck to-day. They inserted &n advertisement in the papers soliciting menof similar occupations to refrain from applying for the vacant situations. Mr. Allison Smith, the local superintendent, advertises for men to take the strikers' placeß, pro mis'iag permanent employment to first-ciass | hands at the current rate of pay. The men on strike plead that the Government forced a 10 per cent, reduction on them during the depression, and refused an application for the restoration of the original rate of wages. On the Other hand it is stat°d that at the time of. the reductions special arrangements were made that those artizana who accepted the new scale, reducing wages by 4| to 5 per cent , were not to rely npon an increase, fieoently they asked the Government to give them 10 per cent, increase on their wages or j they would strike, the Government answer to which was, " Send a respectfully- worded application, and we will consider it." The men adhered to their determination, and numbers struck. The trades out on strike are : — Blacksmiths, 16 ; strikers, 19 ; fitters, 16; machinists, 5; turners, 8; labourers, 2; tinsmith. 1 ; brass finisher, 1 ; total, 68.

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