HALF MILLION IDLE

Patea Mail, Volume L, 31 July 1929, Page 2

HALF MILLION IDLE

COTTON MJLLS LOGIT-OUT.

WAGE REDUCTION REFUGED. The Lancashire cotton mills lock-out •as begun, 1800 mills and 500,000 operatives being /Virtually idle. The lock-out is duo to the refusal of the operatives to agree to the de•is.ions of the mill-owners to reduce wages by 121 per cent. The owners issued lock-out notices some days ago, and they became effective on Monlay last. There is a ray of hope in the fact that while the manufacturing and weaving unions decline to consider a reduction in wages, the spinning section seems anxious to work out a separate agreement with the employers, who will probably be prepared to modify the present demand for a 121 per cent, reduction. The cngincraen and firemen will continue at the old wages pending a general settlement.

The Tootal Broadhurst Company is one of the firms that arc keeping their mills open on the basis that wages ■hnuld not be reduced.

It is estimated 10 per cent, of the Lancashire mills' will maintain the present wages unchanged and will keep on working.