STRIKE AGAINST "KIDS"

Evening Star, Issue 15481, 1 May 1914, Page 1

STRIKE AGAINST "KIDS"

i.OOO GIRLS OBJECT TO FELLOW WORKERS AGED 15.

Because they objected to work with "kids," about a thousand girls employed at the factory of Messrs C. and E. Morton, preserved provision merchants, West Ferryroad, Millwall, struck work. Previously no girl under 18 has been employed at the works, but a few days ago four girls, aged from 15 to 18 (" kids," as the strikers called them), were taken on, and immediately the elder girls came out. One of the anthems of the movement is "We'll all cling together like the ivy," and this was sung lustily afc a meeting addressed by Annie Fallis, one of the leaders of the strike. Annie is a pretty girl of 23, and is immensely popular among her fellowworkers. The strikers also sing the following revised version on "You made me love you " : We only want fair play, yes, we do, indeert we do, You know we do; Give us, give us, what we're out for; You know it's only decent wages that we shout for, We're all in the union now.

The strikers think that the introduction of the younger girls is an attempt at undercutting, but a member of the firm stated that, though they were only too glad to take on girls of 18 and upwards, the difficulty was to get them. One of the new girls was put on the power-press for making tins for tea. The other girls objected, and the girl was drafted another department, but here the employees demanded that she should be dismissed. Then they called for the dismissal of one of the foremen, and, as the firm could not conscientiously concede their demands, they left work. The girls, he added, had the best pay in ajny factory in London. Some of them earned as much as 27s a week. The objectors were 'joined by girls from other departments, about 400 men and boys ceased work in sympathy, and the strike quickly spread to the firm's factory at Cubitt Town, the result being that both had to close- down. The girls are being organised by Miss Mary Macarthur and Miss Susan Lawrence, the L.C.C. member for Poplar. Miss Macarthur explained that the average girl makes 12s a week, and it is desired that she shall have a regular wage of 15s or 16s. " The girls are afraid," continued Miss Macarthur, "that youngsters will come in and take their places at a wage of 6s. At the time of striking none of the girls belonged to a trade union. Now most of them have joined the National Federation of Women Workers." The federation have given £SO to the strike fund, and Miss Lawrence has promised £2O a week as long as the strike lasts.