London's Docks Back Into Full Work After Strike

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 April 1949, Page 5

London's Docks Back Into Full Work After Strike

Men Working On Holidays In An All-Out Priority Effort

LONDON, April 17 (Rec. 6 pm).—Fifteen thousand London dockers resumed work today after a five-day strike. They will work throughout tomorrow in an all-out effort to turn round 94

ships held up by t'ae strike. Fifteen hundred giant cranes, swung into action along London’s ■ 44 miles of quays as dockers I began clearing millions worth of. exports, much of which is vital dollar-earning material, including machinery and cars. Many other . strike-bound ships are loaded with imports of flour, cheese, butter, meat, bacon and tomatoes. Stevedores believe they can have the docks all straight for normal working again by Tuesday Many dockers volunteered to work on Easter Monday besides Sunday to ciear the cargoes of top priority ships. It is estimated the strike cost the nation £10.000,000. Also it is an un-

. certain peace, because the Stevedores • and Dockers’ Union, which originated , the strike, today gave the Ministry of Labour 11 days’ notice of a dispute i over 31 "ineffecive" workers whose ' dismissal caused the strike. Similar notice will be given by the Lightermen’s Union. I The “Daily Herald's” industrial cor- ; respondent says the dockers lost j £lOO,OOO in wages, interfered with exports, and gained nothing for the aged : and unfit dockers whose dismissal ' | prompted the strike. The "Daily ExI press,” however, points out that the ’ dockers will not lose any money • through the strike, because over the ■ holiday period, between this morning and the evening of Monday, they will ■ earn, with overtime, six days' pay for • three days’ work.