INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 149, 16 August 1911, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

STRIKES IN ENGLAND. By Electric Telegraph—Copyright ‘ United Press Association. London, August 15. Tho railway labour war is spreading to Birmingham, Bristol, ami Sheffield. . . .. , Numerous sectional strikes nave commenced. ~ , Throe thousand struck at ivlancliestcr, while the trouble is extending to tho Southern Railway systems. A meeting of workers ol the lattci and tho Bermondsey Transport I'edorafion announced that all Lonmin railway depots would ho blockaded today, and tho companies notified that the railway carters and allied workers should be included in last week’s settlement. Five thousand infantry and cavalry are in readiness to proceed to Liverpool. A hundred Scots Greys and two detachments of Hussars have been despatched. 'lnc Strike Committee at Liverpool, in manifestos to a hundred thousand, calling for a general strike, point out that as the shipowners forced a lockout, the railway companies had not shown a willingness to negotiate, and the authorities are despatching military, the Transport Federation are determined ho stand firm and to cease work at midnight.

At Liverpool there wore two skirmishes between the rioters and the police, but tho military quelled them. A mob barricaded Christian Street and placed wire entanglements in the side streets.

Tho olliccs of tho Shipping Federation wore burned, it is believed, by an incendiary. The strikers cut the fire hoses. The police dispersed them after a sharp conflict. A hundred men and women were sentenced at the Police Court, up to three months’ imprisonment in connection with Sunday’s riot. Seven thousand dockers participated in the riots at Birkenhead. One policeman was seyiously injured. Tho strikes were mostly unsanctioned by the union executives, and therefore* tho strikers will not receive financial benefits.

The Amalgamated Railway Society arc mooting to consider the situation. The secretary states that non-un-ionists started the strike. The strikers induced unionists to join them. Had the railway companies recognised the union the trouble would have been averted.

Mr. Gosling, secretary of the Transport Workers’ Union, states that the men are resuming gradually. Dock work, he says, will be normal in a few days. Fifteen thousand women engaged in factories in South London have struck, and obtained an advance cf a shilling to four shillings weekly. Nearly throe thousand troops, under General MacKinnon, are located at Liverpool. TO-DAY’S MESSAGES. (Received 16, 8.20 a.m.) London, August 15. After midnight a mob looted the shops in Christian Street and district. The infantry fired several volleys overhead and then made bayonet charges up the dark courts, from whence they were assailed with stones and bottles. _ There were many casualties. Two soldiers were grievously wounded. Fifty-six arrests were made. (Received 16, 8 a.m.) London, August 15. There are signs of the Glasgow strike ' fizzling out. Eighty persons have been arrested for rioting. The Corporation committee, after a lively meeting, resolved to leavo the settlement in the hands of the tramway managers. A mass meeting of strikers received the decision with hostility. They will seek the Board of Trades’ arbitration. (Received 16, 9.45 a.m.) London, August 15. The conference between Mr. Asquith and Mr. Buxton at Downing Street to-day included Mr. LloydGeorgo, the Attorney-General, and Mr. Askwith, large employers of the chief trades, with loading representatives of labour, including Messrs. Burt and Bowerman, Commoners. It was afterwards announced that a conference for Thursday had been arranged by the Board of Trade, with representatives of men employed in the various branches of railway work. Work has been resumed at Paddington. The Port of London Authority offers to reinstate the strikers on probation. The train services at Crewe, Leicester, and other centres have been curtailed. Many transport workers at Birmingham have struck. Others who ■ have struck include porters in the goods departments at Chester, Sheffield, Rotherham, Warrington, and Bristol, shunters and dockers at Avonmouth, carmen at Batli and Bristol, a majority of enginedrivers at Stockport, and twelve hundred North British platelayers and surfacemen in the West of Scotland. The tramway strike at Glasgow has collapsed, many of the strikers not being reinstated. Five hundred railwaymen at the docks at Manchester, with the Great Northern goodsmen and Great Northern and Midland vanmen have struck. Alocal merchant declares that Manchester is within three days of starvation. The Millers’ Association at Liverpool declare that a serious bread famine is threatened in Liverpool and Birkenhead. Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commons, stated that the situation in London had improved, and all sections of dockers were returning. Ho believed the transport workers realised the advantages already secured, and the folly of jeopardising them. The soldiers at Liverpool simply fired individual shots at houses from which missiles were thrown.

AUSTRALIA. Brisbane, August 15. Work resumes forthwith. The terms of agreement provide for 30s and keep; overtime rate, time and a quarter; 48 hours a week; and no vindictive spirit to be shown towards the strikers. General satisfaction is expressed at tlie settlement. The conference met at noon. Shortly afterwards the press were admitted and handed the agreement. In addition to the terms cabled, it was agreed that it be a recommendation to employers and employees in the various districts to moot and endeavour to arrange for a mutually satisfactory agreement for next season, and Its far as possible the conditions to Ire made uniform throughout the State. Sydney, August 15. The secretary of the Labour Council declares that now the sugar strike is settled the whole forces of organised labour will lie directed against the iron firm, Hoskins, of Lithgow, on behalf of the strikers.