LABOUR DISPUTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 29

LABOUR DISPUTES

-NORTHUMBERLAXD MINERS. LONDON, August 18. The executive committee of the Northumberland Miners’ Association lias issued a circular announcing that the bank overdraft is £IO,OOO, which will shortly be increased to £16,000. The executive is about to hold a ballot for and against a strike, and ask : “ Where is the money to come from if we strike?” POSTAL WORKERS’ GRIEVANCES. LONDON, August 23. A joint conference of the postal workers’ associations denounced the Government’s proposed increases as insufficient and merely juggling with the position. It was decided to request the Government to relieve an acute and dangerous situation. COST OF STRIKES. LONDON, August 21.

Owing to the abnormal number of strikes, their effect on trade union funds is causing the leaders anxiety. The reserve funds of the General Federation have decreased from £162,210 in 1908 to £15,888 in 1913. Nearly 900,000 unionists are now affiliated to the federation, and danger arises from the growing membership sweeping into the union less thrifty members. REDUCED OUTPUT OF COAL. LONDON, August 22. The output of coal in the United Kingdom in 1912 decreased by over 9,000,000 tons as the result of strikes. STRIKE BY PAINTERS. LONDON, August 24. Five thousand house and ship painters in London have struck for an advance of 3d an hour and recognition of their union. There are indications that 5000 unorganised painters will also join. IRONMOULDERS’ WAGES. LONDON, August 25. The Scottish ironmoulders have decided to strike for an increase of per hour. STRIKES IN IRELAND. LONDON, August 24.’ One hundred Dublin police pensioners have been sworn in as special constables in anticipation of disturbances arising out of existing strikes. STRIKE AT ERIE. NEW YORK, August 24. A strike of ironrnoulders at Erie was followed by serious rioting, in which three strikers were dangerously wounded and scores of others injured before the police intervened. VANCOUVER MINERS' STRIKE. VANCOUVER, August 22. The strike of the Nanaimo miners is practically suppressed. The military have effected 150 arrests of the ringleaders. Special police now control the situation, and it is unlikely that further trouble will occur. a.

STRIKE IN MELBOURNE. MELBOURNE, August 22. Three hundred coal yard employees have struck against the Industrial Appeal Board award decreasing wages and increasing hours after the Wages Board had fixed both. A serious position is threatened. WOMEN S WAGES. SYDNEY, August 2-2. The Labour Council has accorded its support to tixe Women Workers’ Union, who demand a minimum wage for women. The union's representatives declared that women were being slowly killed by the system of ‘speeding up.” BROKEN DILL STRIKE. SYDNEY, August 25. A mass meeting of the Broken Hill strikers rejected a motion to resume pending a decision by the Wages Board. The employers offered to reinstate all the strikers provided they return unconditionally. MANLY FERRY WORKERS. SYDNEY, August 24. The Manly ferry strike did not eventuate yesterday. It is understood that the union leaders are opposed to precipitate action.