Labour Market Hardening’ In Steel Industry In Britain

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 6, 11 October 1948, Page 4

Labour Market Hardening’ In Steel Industry In Britain

Britain’s steel foundries which up to a few months ago were suffering from an acute labour shortage, may soon be fully manned—some works are already standing off men because they are overstaffed. The, national organiser of the British Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers says: “There are signs beginning to appear that we may have reached the peak of the required 1 labour force in the industry as many branches are now finding a less selective position in the placing of men, “The negotiating of piece prices and bonuses is certainly hardening and we aye beginning to hear of the sellers’ market going and of the necessity ta cut costs. It needs no emphasis from me to point out where the employer looks in making any cuts in production costs.” The organiser of the north-west division, one of the largest in the country, reports the first cases of redundancy known in the industry for years—six men have been stood off in two factories. - ■ The union intends to go ,on fighting tooth and nail for the 13/- a week wage increase which was made on behalf of all engineering workers in Britain a few months ago and has now been placed before a Court of Inquiry following rejection by the employers. , : Meanwhile moulders in the light metal industry have been warned not to emigrate to South Africa A letter from the South African union to an immigration officer in Britain says: “On no account must you advise light metal or plate moulders to emigrate to this country as we have already large number s. out of work—immigrants as well as our own people.”