THE STRIKES IN BRITAIN

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11748, 7 February 1919, Page 5

THE STRIKES IN BRITAIN

GOAL WORKERS’ DEMANDS. FEWER HOURS AND MORE MONEY London, February 5. The London coal [workers and leaders are striking for a 48-hour week and £5 weekly. * INDUSTRIAL SITUATION GRAVE. N ABOUR POLIO Y SUGGESTED. London, February 5 Mr Clynas considers the industrial situation so grave that it justifies a special session of the General Federation of Trades Unions, representing five million workers to carefully consider a national Labour policy which the Government and employers must heed, provided the rank and file of the workers will guarantee loyalty THE RAILWAY PARALYSIS ON THE BIG LINES London, February 5 Paralysis of the steam railways began at midnight A number of drivers and others on the London South Western and London-Brighton lines have already strnok. The South Western officials have issned a notice that the service might be reduced or entirely suspended CABINET,TO INTERVENE PUBLIC PREPARED TO RESIST DEMAND London, February 5. The announcement that Cabinet contemplates immediate steps to end the intolerable situation is welcomed on ali sides. Newspapers of every shade of opinion recognise that firm, unhesitating handling is essential. There is no doubt the public would prefer to submit to further inconvenience than to obtain relief by making concessions to a casual meeting of workmen, who presented 0a loaded revolver at the Government’s head. The Daily News, which ordinarily espouses Labour’s claims, says: Any other course would be fatal. Society would be at be! end, and nothing would survive but anarchy and violence. GLASGOW COUNCIL DEMANDS. London, February 5. Members of the Glasgow City Council are demanding an inquiry into Friday’s strike scenes, and the immediate withdrawal of Hoops from Glasgow. AN ASSOCIATION RECOGNISED. London, February 5, The Government has recognised the Railway Clerks’ Association, averting the stationmaters’ striKe. MEASURES FOR MEETING THE STRIKE. LABOUR LEADERS ALARMED. BRITISH EMPIRE IN DANGER. Received Feb 7, II a.m. London, Feb 4 The arrival of Lord Pirrie at Belfast to attend the funeral of Gumming, one of Harland and Wolff’s directors, produced an optimistic impression that a settlement was imminent, although the strike leaders declare that this can only be settled on a basis of a forty-fonr hours’ week. The so-called Labour Parliament continues to conduct the strike with a complete absence of disorder. “ There was a remarkable incident when Cnmming’s funeral was passing a great open-air demonstration. Speeches were discontinued and the crowd removed iheir hats and lined the roads silence. Lord Pirrie receives the strikers’ deputation on Wednesday. Glasgow is quiet. More men have , resumed at the shipyards. A general resumption is expected on Wednesday. , The most recent developments emphasise the Government’s view that the conditions are not in any sense industrial disputes, but an attempt to substitute dictatorship for negotiations. It seems "certain that thbre will be a farther spread of the strike fever before conditions are resumed. A number of meetings were held privately last night with a view to securing unity of action. The Executive of the Vehicle Workers’ Union considered the position in reference to London omnibuses and adjourned in order to confer with the Society of Locomotive Engineers, lElectrical Trade Unions and the unofficial section cf the National Union of Railwayman. The meetings were held in the greatest secrecy. The Electrical Trade Unions are finding a difficulty in restraining most of the impulsive members, who are demanding a strike at the power stations immediately instead of waiting till Thursday [night, but in view of the offer of seven hundred London members of the Electrical Power Engineers’ Association to maintain the supply of electricity it is doubtful whether the threat to plunge London into [darkness will be effective. The authorities are apparently fully alive to all the possibilities of the situation and have taken steps to maintain postal, telegraph and telephone systems in the event of a general strike of electrical workers. The Food Ministry has also arranged for a host of motor cars to be in readiness ensuring adequate distribution [of feed, particularly 'milk, in the event of a breakdown of the transport system. Responsible Trade Union leaders have arranged a joint meeting today of the Parliamentary Labour Party, and the National Labour Executive will probably issue a powerful manifesto, signed by ali

Labour members of the House of Uommous.

Mr BowermaD, in an interview, said something must be done immadiately as present action was undermining the effectiveness of colleotive«bargaining, which is the essence of the trade unionism movement and cannot be allowed to go unchallenged. Mr Roberts, in a speech at Harrow, said unless reasonable trade unionists and employers combine to resist the movement we are going straight for the decline ana fall of the British Empire.