A MACHINISTS5 STRIKE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12531, 19 June 1901, Page 2

A MACHINISTS 5 STRIKE.

FIFTY THOUSAND MEN STOP WORK. [Per Press Association.] (Per R.M.S. Mariposa, at' Auckland.) AUCKLAND, June 18. Approximately fifty thousand machinists throughout the United States struck work on May 20, and are still idle. Their demand was for a nine hours’ day in place of ten, and; a scale of wages equal to the present ten hour per day scale and other concessions. <i’The strike thus far has not extended to the allied trades, except in a few instances. No machinists engaged in Government work are implicated, owing to the fact that on such work an eight hour day already prevails. The railroad, machinists are not, as a rule, involved, though the machinists on several roads are out. The strike order does not apply to railroads ; it was issued by the National Order of Machinists. Since th© beginning of the strike, a large number of employers have acceded to the demands of the men, and among these are numbered; most of the great iron and steel works. Th© spirit of the strikers cannot be said to be in the least warlike. They have expressed their determination to bold out, and are firm in the opinion that th© employees must eventually Win. The only turmoil is in the breasts of men who see their yards empty of toilers, the while contracts are lapsing, and cargoes are waiting for ships which are not in seagoing condition. A number of steamships were undergoing repairs when the metal workers’ strike order went into effect, and these must remain idle, along with several uncompleted vessels, which cannot go into commission as soon, as was expected. The Oceanic Company is effected by the strike, as its steamer Alameda is at the Bisdon Ironworks, where she was undergoing .repairs costing two hundred thousand dollars.