LABOUR TROUBLES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 494, 6 December 1897, Page 3

LABOUR TROUBLES.

THE ENGINEERS' STRIKE. {Per / 'r<:xs Association. — '// f-) London, Dec. 4. The Engineers' Conference has adjourned until December 4th (sir), to enable the trades union ballot upon the decisions arrived at. The outcome of the conference is that employers adhere at all points to the original position they took up. They demand the right to regulate individually piecework and overtime, and require workmen to accept wages fixed according to their ability, and maintain the right to employ an unlimited number of apprentices. They are willing to negotiate trades disputes with union officals centrally or locally. After individual negotiations have failed, they propose that ponding the discussion of disputes work is not to be stopped. Employers l-efuse the unionists' demand for 48 hours per week, chiefly on the ground of increasing foreign trade competition. Workmeu on their part are willing to concede employers the right to employ non-unionists, but object to the methods regulating piecework and overtime, and demand the right to bargan for wages collectively, and the fixing of the standard rate. With regard to the employment of apprentices they require that the ratio be one apprentice to every three journeymen, and they insist upon the demand for 48 hours. In face of the firm stand taken on both sides the outlook as far as the conference resulting in the settlement of the difficulty is concerned is doubtful. The railway men, finding that various railway companies are uniting to res st their demands for shorter hours and other concessions, applied to Mr Ritchie to arrange for a conference of employers to discuss the difficulty.