Manchester Gas Strike Paralyses War Industry

Northern Advocate, 22 April 1944, Page 4

Manchester Gas Strike Paralyses War Industry

LONDON, April 21 Manchester’s entire gas services have been paralysed by a strike of 500 men demanding an extra penny an hour, and 90 per cent, of the city’s population will be breadless to-morrow unless the strike ends, because the majority of the bakeries use gas and coke ovens. The strike, which began at 6 a.m. today, has already brought war factories to a standstill and deprived hospitals, households, hotels, and restaurants of hot meals.

Gas supplies dwindled all day from 25,000,000 cubic feet to 6,000,000 at 6 p.m„ when a general order was issued to “turn off all gas” in the city.

The gas chief explained that it was necessary to retain 6,000,000 cubic feet in the mains to keep up the requisite pressure to prevent air pockets. A flying squad of loud speaker cars rushed to districts to warn 220,000 consumers that any attempts to use further gas might result in explosions.

Three hundred troops arrived at Manchester gasworks early this morning to take over and run the plant. They will work under the direction of technicians.