THE DOCK LABOURERS' STRIKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1974, 19 September 1889, Page 16

THE DOCK LABOURERS' STRIKE.

WORK TO BE RESUMED TO-DAY.

AUSTRALIA SPECIALLY THANKED.

GRATIFICATION AT ITS CONCLUSION.

ANOTHBE STEIKE THREATENED.

;Pjbr Pbess Association.)

London, September 11.

It is reported the strikers have cabled to the Australian Unions asking them to refuse to discharge vessels loaded by non-strikers. Burns is ill from the effects of overwork. September 12.

The New Zealand Shipping Company deny they have any intention of suing the dock companies for loss occasioned by the detention of the Ruapehu.

The strikers hare £12,000 in the bank.

It was the Strike Committee who empowered Cardinal Manning to negotiate with the employers. They appear to be convinced that it is desirable to accept a compromise if the companies will begin the increased pay in November instead of January.

The Standard says that Australian artisans will find that while nominally helping the dock labourers, they have really been playing into the hands of Socialist agitators.

The Seamen's Union has sent a manifesto to Australia asking the unions there not to allow the Tainui to be unloaded, on the grounds that she is manned by " blacklegs."

The Tainui, whose departure was delayed by the strike, has started. She coals at Plymouth.

The Dock Committee still refuse to give the advance before January.

City men are cabling to the Australian unions to the effect that the support given by Australia to the strikers is imperilling the position of London.

Tbe leaders of the strike admit that it must have collapsed without the supplies of money received from Australia.

A citizen of London offers £2000, on condition that £8000 more is subscribed, to recoup the dock companies the cost of conceding the advance in November instead of January.

Burns has declined to stand for Dundee seat' rendered vacant by the death of Mr, Firth.

Burns states that the end of the strike is near at hand.

September 13.

To tbe surprise of everyone, Cardinal Manning announces that the strike has virtually been amicably arranged, subject to the settlement of a few points affecting outsiders.

The terms on which Cardinal Manning has brought the strike to a termination are that the dock companies shall pay the men 5d an hour up to November 4, and 6d an hour after that d

September 15.

The Strikers' Committee have ordered the men to resume work. On Monday they passed a resolution specially thanking the colonies for the valuable financial assistance rendered them in the struggle, which they declared to be the first step in the direction of a labour universal federation. They admit that without the liberal contributions from Australia victory would not have been won.

The agreement was signed last night. The lightermen delayed its final completion, as while professing sympathy with tbe strike they to resume under 6s a day. Tbe masters yielded, but they have referred other demands to arbitration.

The Surrey commercial dock men held out for an increase of wages, which was granted them.

The strike has cost the companies and workmen in all £2,000,000, besides lowering the value of dock stock an additional £1,000,000. The newly-formed' Labourers' Union numbers 18,000 members, which it is considered will be sufficient for the needs of the port without the aid of casual hands.

The demand of the sailors for increased wages has been conceded.

September 16.

JThe press is unanimous in expressing gratification at tbe terms agreed to between the companies and dockmen, and al&o at the conclusion of the strike, but consider it doubtful whether the strikers have gained a permanent benefit.

The men marched in procession to Hyde Park to-day, when a congratulatory meeting was held, at which a special vote of thanks was awarded to Australians and others who had rendered financial aid.

Mr Gillies (Premier of Victoria) has cabled to Sir G. Berry (Agent -general), conveying the general sympathy of Victorian colonists with the strikers.

Cardinal Manning and the Lord Mayor, speaking at Guildhall, eulogised the orderly conduct of the men during the strike.

Burns has promised that a balance sheet should be prepared showing the use to which the funds had been put. The surplus was being applied to the relief of distress among the families of the strikers.

The Australian flag precedes the procession which will march to Hyde Park to signalise the termination of the strike.

Tillet, chairman of the Labourers' Union, exhorts the dock labourers to work with unionists onlj .

Burns intends to visit Australia in a month for the sake of his health, which has been greatly strained by the anxieties of the past three weeks. He will take the opportunity of thanking the colonists personally for the liberality of their contributions in aid of the men on strike.

The strikers who have been re-engaged are, contrary to the guarantee given, molesting the " blacklegs " engaged by the dock companies, especially those at Surrey and Albert docks. Many of the " blacklegs " were stoned and ducked.

The Mansion House Committee and Burns had a conference, at which it was agreed to use influence to obtain a rigid observance of the terms of the agreement.

Many of the strikers repudiate the right of their leaders to pledge them to amicable treatment of " blacklegs,"

Burns in addressing the men advised a patient policy, And he threatened if the dock companies violated the agreement to organise another strike, which would paralyse the trade of London.

It is reported that the object of Barns' visit to Australia is to organise in the colonies

the preliminaries of a strike on a more extensive scale. There is generally a depression in business circles with regard to the future.

It is stated that the railway employes are organising a strike for 10£ hours' work. The strikers complain that many of the dock officials are treating them vindictively and unfairly.

A large number of stevedores have refused to work, except with members of the union.

At the meeting of strikers in Hyde Park the Australian flag was waved from the platform, surrounded by flowers. It; preceded all tbe flags in the procession.

Four thousand men were working in the docks when the strike ecded.

Although Burns denies that the strike is connected with Socialists, the organs of the latter claim the result as a triumph for their principles, and the leaders make no concealment of their intention to organise the different kinds of labour "in preparation for a general strike next summer until further-. concessions are made.

It is asserted that numbers of the strikers were kept on good pay, and that Burns did not give bis services without remuneration. In support of the latter statement it is alleged that he was able to spend money lavishly during the time of the strike.

Tbe dock owners assert that the London papers published garbled accounts of the stiike, which were cabled to Australia in order to court popularity, while the correspondents of tbe American papers sent both sides of the question.

Burns boasts that the result of the movement is a death blow to the domination of capital over labour. Melbouene, September 13. The strike fund has reached £13,300. September 14.

The president of the Stevedores' Union states that although they have not yet received any communication from London as to vessels leaving which have been loaded by " blacklegs" the union will refuse to discharge those vessels if requested. geptember 16. The strike fund in aid of the men on strike in London has reached the sum of £14,000.

Wellington, September 13. With reference to the cablegram from London published that the strikers had cabled to Australian unions asking them not to discharge vessels which had been Joaded by " blacklegs," it may be mentioned that the Seamen's Union here have received no notification to that effect. There is no lumpers' union in Wellington. The Tainui was to have sailed from London on the7th iosfc., and is therefore due in the colony on the 20th October.

The trades affiliated to the Trades and Labour Council have subscribed £70 in aid of the Strikers' Fund. Numerous lists have yet to bo collected.

The amount collected at Greymouth on behalf of the London dock strikers was £85 10s. All the West Coast contributions will he remitted togbther,