STRIKES IN BRITAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 September 1943, Page 6

STRIKES IN BRITAIN

WORKERS’ NERVES ON EDGE

(Rec. 11.30) LONDON. Sept., 27. Britain is passing through a somewhat difficult stage domestically at present. The outbreak of unauthorised strikes which are becoming so persistent cannot be airily dismissed In the period August 5 to September 18 there were 230 unofficial strikes, involving the loss of 270,000 working days. To-day comes the news that for ten days 9000 engineering workers in the arms firm of Vickers have been on strike over pay, and it is stated that there is no glimmer of the strike breaking. In order that people abroad may maintain a proper perspective of this position, it should be borne in mind that last week’s manpower debate in the Commons showed that Britain has reached the limit of the mobilisation of man power and woman powand that the degree of mobilisation exceeds that of any other country engaged in the war, whether ally or enemy. What is the reason for the present phase? That is a question occupying many minds at present. It has been asked whether the Government's requiring more of this country than it is capable of doing in order to overthrow Nazism. “The Economist” seems to put its finger on the spot when it says: “The frictions of the fifth year of the war mirror the hard labour of the four that have gone. Workers, managers, employers and administrators have undergone great physical and mental strain, not comparable in any way to the suffering in occupied Europe or warwracked Russia, though more prolonged, but sufficient to make understandable far more unrest than has appeared. The causes of most strikes headlined in recent days are loqal and personal. They concern the grievances of individuals, or the exasperation of relatively a small group of workers. They are important because they may be symptomatic of greater unrest to come, and they undoubtedly represent a serious warning, but should not be overestimated.”

Referring to the position of the coal and shipbuilding and transport, “The Economist” adds: “Increase in working days lost is not yet evidence of serious labour unrest, but a widespread fraying of nerves and goodwill. The workers vexed by wartime conditions, are troubled about .their prospects after the war. The absence of Government decisions of post-war policy has caused scepticism and alarm.” “The Economist” says there, is increasingly a growing widespread demand for more definite Government statements of post-war policy, and the general hope that Mr. Churchill will soon he able to find time to turn attention to the home front, in addition to the world front.