STRIKE OVER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27058, 18 April 1949, Page 5

STRIKE OVER

LONDON DOCKERS RESUME HUGE COST TO NATION NZPA—Copyright Rec. 11 p.m. LONDON, Apl. 16. Fifteen thousand London dockers resumed work to-day after five-day strike. They will work throughout tomorrow in an all-out effort to turn round the 94 ships held up by the strike. Fifteen hundred giant cranes swung into action along London’s 44 miles of quays as the dockers began clearing millions of pounds -worth of exports, much of which is vital dollarearning material, including machinery and cars. Many other strike-bound ships are loaded with imports of flour, cheese, butter, meat, bacon and tomatoes. The stevedores believe they can have the docks all straight for normal working again by Tuesday. Many dockers volunteered to work Easter Monday besides Sunday to clear the cargoes of top-priority ships. It is estimated the strike cost the nation £10,000,000. Also, it is an uncertain peace because the Stevedores and Dockers’ Union, which originated the strike, to-day gave the Ministry of Labour 21 days’ notice of a dispute over the 31 “ineffective” workers whose dismissal caused the strike. Similar notice will be given by the Lightermen's Union. The industrial correspondent of the Daily Herald says the dockers lost £IOO,OOO in wages, interfered with ex. ports, and gained nothing for the aged and unfit dockers whose dismissal prompted the strike. The Daily Express, however, points out that the dockers will not lose any money through the strike, because over the holiday period between this morning and the evening of Monday they will earn, with overtime, six days’ pay for three days’ work.