LABOUR TROUBLES

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14021, 26 March 1919, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES

FRENCH RAILWAYMEN’S DEMANDS.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received March 26, 10 a.m. 1, . »• LONDON, March 25. The French 1 Railvvaymen’s Federation threatened a general strike oh May 1 unless the railways are nationalised and an eight-hour day enforced with a minimum salary of £2 weekly.

GOVERNMENT’S UTMOST OFFER

MADE TO THE RAILWAYMEN

(Australian, N.Z. and Reuter.) Received March 26, 12.50 p.m. LONDON, March 25. The official report of yesterday’s conference "between the Triple Alliance of the Railways Union and the Government shows that Mr Thomas replied in the affimativc to Mr Bonar Law’s inquiry whether all three members of the Alliance would strike in the event of even an unjustified strike by one member. . Replying to Mr Thomas, Mr Bonar Law emphasised that the Government intended that the extra pay should be given for real night work by railwaymen.

In regard to 100,000 railway shopmen. who mostly belong to the Engineers’ Societies, not the Railwaymen’s Unions, Mr Bonar Law states that the Government could not negotiate with Mr Thomas thereanent unless the railway unions could come to an arrangement by which Mr Thomas would represent all the shopmen. He also stated that the Government had undertaken that the wages of railwaymen should not he reduced until the end of the year,, when the question could he reopened. Mr Bonar Law emphasised that- the country’s financial position was serious, and the railways at present wore costing the taxpayer over half the national expend!, tnre before the war. The offer the Government was now making was the utmost it could do. ARRANGEMENT WITH RAILWAYMEN. (Australian and N.Z. and Reuter.) Received March 26. 12.50 p.m. LONDON, March 25. The Press Bureau states that representatives of the Govrenment, the Railway Executive Committee, and the Railway Unions yesterday reviewed the whole concessions, offered by the Government, and reached an agreement in regard to the interpretations: thereof. If the railwayirien’s unions ratify the tprms, the negotiations on the remaining items on the programme will Ik? continued immediately, the Government undertaking thajj every effort will he made, to secure a fair and speedy settlement thereof. GENERAL STRIKE AT BARCELONA. (Australian ami N.Z. Table Assn.) Received March 26, 10 a.m. MADRID, March 25. There is a general strike at Bhrcclona.