SHIPBUILDING DEADLOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18680, 9 April 1924, Page 9

SHIPBUILDING DEADLOCK.

SOUTHAMPTON STRIKERS. DEFIANCE OF THE UNIONS. MEN'S EJECTION PROBABLE. AVERTING THE LOCK-OUT. lis Telegraph— Association— Copyright. (Received 11.55 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. April 7. The Southampton shipbuilding engineers overwhelmingly refused to resume work. It is consequently expected that in terms of the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation's decision the lock-out will begin to-morrow. The Southampton men are demanding a wages increase of 17s 6d i per week. The masters and the trades union leaders alike admit that the principle behind the Southampton strike is most important. This is shown by the fact that the 16 unions involved were ordered to take separate individual ballots on the question of whether the men would return to work. The unions' authority, however, is being challenged by the extremists, who are influenced by Communists. The strike is on the principle of collective bargaining. The- union leaders understand that the crisis can only be met by drastic measures. It may be necessary for them to expel the Southampton strikers from the unions in order to prevent a national lock-out. The older members of the Southampton unions would, in the case of a lock-out, lose many years' contributions and benefits. Thougk the Southampton masters would lose the weapon of mass action by the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation, they would be able to replace the strikers as none would support the men if they were ejected from the unions