LABOUR QUESTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17533, 27 January 1919, Page 6

LABOUR QUESTIONS

SHD7EAKD WORKERS. DEMAND FOE. REDUCED HOURS. Prota Association—By Totegrsspn—Copyright. LONDON, January 23. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.5 p-m.) Forty thousand Hariand and Wolffs shipyard engineers at Belfast will strike on Saturday unless a 40-hour week is conceded. Two large yards h*ra already been granted 44 hours. The National Conference between the Ministry of Labour, the employers, and the men engaged in the engineering and shipbuilding trades opened to-day. . The decisions will affect three million men. The outlook is bright, as an early agreement is possible. The Glasgow municipal workers, including the tramways, gas, water, and electricity employees, threaten to strike for a 40-hour week The Daily Telegraph's Labour correspondent calls attention to the widespread uncertainty regarding . unemployment, owing to demobilisation. This provides a receptive soil for Bolshevist, seeds. The unrest has its origin in a misunderstanding of the economic position—namely, failure to appreciate the country's war obligations. These can only be met by increased production.—A, and N-Z. Cable. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.30 p.m.) The Federation of General Workers, at a special meeting in London, decided to demand a 44-hour week.—A. and N.Z. Cable. LONDON, January 23. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.30 p.m.) The Yorkshire coal strike has already caused a number of woollen mills to close. If--the strike had continued for a few days it would have thrown thousands into unemployment. The Coal Controller conceded a meal stoppage of 20 minutes in each shift. GENERAL STRIKE LOOMING. A MILLION WORKERS AFFECTED! "\ LONDON, January 23. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.30 p-m.) Several thousand miners in the Nottinghamshire coal field have struck. The strikers complain that a number of men, including discharged soldiers, received notice of dismissal without satisfactory reason. The employers state that-only 25 men are under notice. They were temporarily engaged, and are now being dismissed to make room for demobilised soldiers. The Daily Chronicle states that the .Yorkshire miners' strike will affect a million workers, independent of industries, this week. _ The Glasgow tramway workers have decided to join the general strike for a 44hour week. The shipbuilding and other workers on the Firth of Forth, with the exception of thrf engineers, have reached a similar decision. DISSATISFIED IRONWORKERS. " ATTEMPT AT A SETTLEMENT. ' . LONDON, January 23. Jan. 26, at 5.5 p.m.) THe Press Bureau spates that the Minister of Labour met members of the exioo'a,tive and the district officials of the boilermakers, shipwrights, and blacksmiths, who agreed?to a 47-hour week, ana promised to advise the resumption of work if there were no reduction in wages. -The pieceworkers have already acceded to the time of working. The Minister replied that the employers were willing, to meet and negotiate with the committee for the unions, and discuss all questions on January 29, if work were resumed on January 27. The Minister also referred to the resolution signed by 1 the secretaries of the unions concerned advising resumption as a condition precedent to the meeting with the employers. The employees' representatives present , declined to advise the resumption of work, upon which the proceedings adjourned.— A.; and N.Z. and Router.

A GOVERNMENT PROMISE. LONDON, January 23. (Received Jan. 26, at 5.5 p.m.) The Press Bureau states that the Government has decided that no disabled solor sailors shall be employed in Stateowned factories or establishments, and that they shall be discharged until after dilution of labour has taken place, or exservice men of the same class and skill have been tried. The Minister of Labour requests all employers to act similarly.— A. and N.Z. Cable.