FORTY-HOUR WEEK

Evening Star, Issue 25635, 8 November 1945, Page 4

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

RISING DEMAND IN BRITAIN LABOUR GOVERNMENT MUST MAKE DECISION \ (fI.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent,) LONDON, November 6. Britain’s dockers are back at work after five weeks’ strike, and the building workers have held another demonstration in London. The basic reason both for the* strike and the demonstration is the same—namely, the demand for a 4D-hour week, and a set rate of wages/ It is ope more question to Which' the Labour Government must face up, and give a decision. Already the same request for a 40-hour week has been made to the engineering and railway employers, and they, like the dock and bunding employers, have stated that the question is‘one for the Government to determine i for industries generally. The question has also arisen in mining and other industries. The institution of a 40-hour week is part of Trade Union Congress policy. It was adopted in 1944 when a resolution called for a 40-hour week and a fortnight’s holiday with pay as one of the first all-round reforms which should be brought into operation as ROon as possible' after the war. (Subsequently the world Trade Union. Conference included these measures in its programme. All trade unions were asked by the T.U.C. to implement the policy by approaching employers with the proposal at the earliest possible moment after hostilities had ended, while the Government was asked to give legislative backing 'to. agreements concluded between two sides of any particular industry. The question of . wages is coming increasingly to the fore as many industrial workers, after receiving higher wages and overtime during, the war, now find themselves on lower wage rates without overtime, but with the cost of living still unchanged. At tho same time, employers with their eyes on an export drive and competition in foreign markets, desire to .keep costs as low as possible. Tlus on the one hand there are worlers seeking a larger share of the nation's wealth, and on the other, employers endeavouring to get production restarted on a peace-time basis to build up Britain’s income again. A position is being reached in which industrial unrest will increase unless a definite policy is laid down by the Government.