Coal Strike Threatens British Steel Industry

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 September 1947, Page 7

Coal Strike Threatens British Steel Industry

(Recd. 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, September 2. The continued stoppage of 29 collieries constitutes a direct threat tb the Sheffield steel industry, employing 50,000 men, says the Daily Telegraph. An official of the Iron and Steel Trades Federation said that within 12 days the melting shops might have to close, putting thousands on short time or out of work. . Another report says that 25 Yorkshire collieries were either partially or wholly stopped this afternoon. The stoppage is complete at eight collieries and it is estimated that 20,000 men are striking one-seventh of the mine labour force in the north-east region.

The strike spread for the first time to the Upton colliery, when threequarters of the men on the afternoon shift returned home. Frickley again became' idle when none of the 600 afternoon shift workers appeared. The situation at Wombwell also deteriorated with the afternoon shift. Darfield main is idle. _ There were 200 absentees at South Kirby. Nearly 1500 miners at Cardowan colliery, near Glasgow, began an unofficial strike, which is believed to be over a wages dispute.

The miners at Houghton main, which employes 2700 men, and produces 17,000 tons weekly, decided to strike in sympathy with the Grimethorpe men. An official of the Clerical and Administrative Workers’ Union stated that all members of the mining section had been instructed to strike on September 6, following the decision of the T.U.C. Congress on the dispute between the union and the National Union of Mineworkers over the clerical workers’ ■ rights to negotiate with the National Coal Board.