INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Otago Witness, Issue 3487, 11 January 1921, Page 17

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

MR BEX TILLETT'S WARNING. LONDON, January 2. Mr Ben Tillett, in a New Year message to the dockers, says that the year opens with the certainty of a titanic class struggle. He advises the workers to show patience and discipline. ONE BIG UNION. LONDON, January 2. A meeting at East London, attended by several thousand transport workers throughout the country, unanimously con firmed the agreement combining into one big union the various unions into which the transport workers have hitherto been divided. The new organisation will have an immediate membership of 500,000. TRADE UNION CLERKS. LONDON, January 4. Owing to being scandalously underpaid the clerks attached to the London headquarters of various trade unions have themselves formed a trade union and attached themselves to the National Union of Clerks. A number of the trade unions ignored the recent resolution of the Trade Union Congress that the clerks should be properly paid. The clerks are asking for a minimum of £5 5s per week. January 9. In connection with the trade union clerks, the Parliametnary Committee of the Trade Union Congress has requested all the London branches to pay their staffs generously, and so wipe ont the present reproach. AMERICAN WAGE CUTS. WASHINGTON, January 4. The American Federation of Labour has announced that it ivill urge the Congres sional investigation into the wage cuts and factory ciosings. The federation has charged the manufacturers with accumulating huge reserves while high prices prevailed and profits were great, and are now' acting in concert to bring down wages. WEST AUSTRALIAN STRIKE. PERTH, January 3. The Government is organising motor services to minimise the inconvenience caused by the strike. The strike position is unchanged. Holiday makers and the public generally were again to-day compelled to content themselves w'ith an inadequate motor service and other vehicles. The strike badly affected the attendances at the races and other sports. A committee of business men is co-operating with the Government in organising the supply and distribution of necessariy commodities. The food supplies are adequate, but the supply of coal is already short. Railway employees other than those absolutely necessary will be given a day’s notice, and most of the salaried officers a month’s notice. This step has been taken as a precautionary measure, though it is hoped that it will not become effective. Mr P. Antom (president of the Labour Party), addressing a mass meeting, stated that there would be no starvation in any part of the State. Relief trains would be run under the control of the Disputes Committee, and not under the Railway Commissioner or the Government. Probably an offer would be made by the Disputes Committee to the people in a few days to run the railways themselves. The alternatives now wei'e a cessation of the railway service under the commissioner or running without the commissioner. The Premier, referring to these utterances, declared that they meant open warfare and the taking over of the railways on Bolshevist lines. The trains would run to relieve the necessities of the outlying districts, hut they would be run under the authority of the commissioner, and not otherwise. Jannarv 3. All the mines at Kalgoorlie are closed owing to the shortage of firewood, caused by the wood cutters’ holidays, and they cannot now Teopen until at least a week after the termination of the railway strike. The Government has appealed to the eiti zens with motor cars to come to its assist ance and organise an efficient motor transport. The Trades Hall Disputes Committee has decided in addition to the points im-

mediately involved, to demand full payment for all the railway men locked out by the Government; also payment for all railwaymen forced out of work through the obstinacy of the Government, and the exclusion from the service of any persons taking the places vacated by unionists. January 5. The Premier indignantly replied to the strikers’ request to control the railways. He said he was surprised at the suggestion, and did not believe it was made seriously. January 6. A mass meeting of railway unions, which was attended by 1000 people, supported the locomotive men. The Premier has issued a statement appealing to the public to decide between constitutional Government and Soviet rule. The Returned Soldiers’ Executive passed a resolution of loyalty and reaffirming the league’s principle of supporting law and order. There are no developments in connection with the railway strike. The Government has taken a census of the motor cars and petrol, with a view to commandeering these if necessary. January 9. The strikers and the Government held an abortive conference, the Government stating that it was determined to adhere to the Arbitration Court. Mounted police are being brought into the city from the countrv 3 and arrangements are being made to swear in special constables. The strike leaders have warned the Government against a show of force, which wall anger the unionists. They hope the warning will be respected so as to prevent bloodshed. THE COAL MINES. LONDON, January 7. ’The Board of Trade, the coal owners, and the miners are conferring with a view to controlling the industry at an early date, possibly the beginning of February. It is understood that the miners are willing to accept the principle of the owners’ offer of a new wage basis to supersede the settlement of the October strike. January 7. The Board of Trade, the coal owners, and the miners are conferring with a view to controlling the industry at an early date, possibly the beginning of February. It is understood that the miners are willing to accept the principle of the owners’ offer of a new wage basis to supersede the settlement of the October strike. LIGHTNING STRIKE IN AUSTRIA. VIENNA, January 6. A lightning strike of employees on the southern railways, involving a stoppage of trains en route, led to furious passengers attacking the engine-drivers and guards with revolvers and sticks, and forcing them to proceed to their destination. A free fight between passengers and strikers on arrival at the station at Gratz was stopped by the gendarmerie. TROUBLE IN GERMANY. BERLIN, January 5. The railwaymen voted in favour of a strike. The Minister threatens all the strikers with dismissal. LONDON, January 5. The ship joiners at Hamburg refused work on the Themistocles, but negotiations are proceeding, and it is hoped that work will commence to-dav. BERLIN, January 7. The ship joiners have commenced worn on the Themistocles. If they continue, the owners are hopeful of despatching her about the end of January. The railway trouble has been adjusted. The men have accepted the Government’s compromise. It is believed that the settlement been hastened by the fact that the French military authorities were prepared to run the railways in the occupied territory. AMAEGA MAT 1 LON OF WOOD WORKERS. LONDON, January 4. The Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, Cabinetmakers, and Joiners of Great Britain has merged with the General Union of Operative Carpenters and Joiners, becoming the Amalgamated Society of Wood Workers, with a membership of 170,000 in America. Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.