LABOUR UNREST.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16431, 27 January 1919, Page 7

LABOUR UNREST.

' * ENGINEERS' STRIKE. (Br Cable.—Prws Association—Copyright I (Australian and N.Z. Cable Aacooiation.) LONDON, January 2-2. A prolonged meeting of London engi : noers was hold with a view to planning a national strike if the employers* refuse tho men's terms. The secretary of tho Amalgamated !n> ciotv of Engineers declares that tho arrangement for a forty-seven hours' week is temporary, with a view to onabling a settlement to be mado on a national basis. If tho men decide to take 6trong action, it will probably culminate in demand for a forty-four* or forty-hour.s week. The Ministry of Laboirr, after considering tho engineers and shipbuilders disputo, informed tho Employers' Federation and the trade unions that the bodies which throw up the agreement ought to settlo the points arising therefrom . Meetings of these parties will be held in London on Wednesday and on Thursday. TUNERS' DISPUTE. LONDON, January A strike of Yorkshire miners on Thursday is inevitable. Tho coal owners aro still declining to permit the customary stoppages for meals. (Australian and N.Z. Ca>bl© Association* (Received January 26th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 23. Several thousand miners on the Nottinghamshire coal fiold havo struck. Tho strikers complain that a number of mon, including discharged soldiers, received notice of dismissal without satisfactory reason. The employers state that only twonty-five men are under notice. They wero temporarily engaged, and wero being dismissed to make room for demobilised soldiers. Tho Yorkshire coal strike lias already ; caused a number of woollen mills to i close. If the strike had continued a few days it would havo thrown thous- . ands into unemployment. ■ | Tho Coal Controller conceded a. twenty minutes meal stoppage to each i shift. 11 The "Daily Chronicle" states that , tho Yorkshire miners' strike will affect one million workers in depondant industries. SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY. LONDON. January 22. The disputo : n the northern shipyards regarding a. forty-seven hours' week has held up tho repair of many ships. AN ABORTIVE CONFERENCE. (Australian and N.Z. Oablo Association.) (Editor's Tolofrrams.) (Received January 26th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 23. Tho Press Bureau states that the ' Minister of Labour met members of tho executive and district officials of tho Boilermakers, Shipwrights, and Blaclc- ; smiths' Unions, who agreed to a fortyseven hours' week, and promised to advise tho resumption of work if no reduction were mado in tho wages of pieceworkers, already conceded, and time workers. Tho Minister replied that tho »m- ---' ployors were willing to meet a negotiat- ' ing committee for tho unions and discuss all questions on January 29th. if work were resumed on January 27th. Tho Minister also referred to a resolution signed by the secretaries of the I unions concerned advising resumption > as a condition precedent to the moot- ; ing with the employers. I The representatives present declined ■i to advise tho resumption of work, -upon which the proceedings were adjournod. The "Daily Telegraph's" Labour correspondent calls attention to the widespread uncertainty regarding unem- , ployiiient owing to tho demobilisation, . which provides receptive coil for Bol- | shevist seeds. The unrest hne its origin ' in a misunderstanding of tho economic position, namely, tho failure to appro- . ciate tho country's war obligations. Those can only be mot by increase*' production. A BELFAST DECISION. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Association.) . (Received January 26th, 5J> pjn.) LONDON, Januaiy 23. Forty thousand of Harland and Wolff's shipyard engineers at Belfast will strike on Saturday unless a forty hour week is conceded. Two largo yards have already granted forty-four hours. A National Conference between tho Ministry of Labour and the employers ' and men in the engineering and shipbuilding trades opened to-day. The . decisions affect three million men. The outlook is bright as on early agreement is possible. POLICE THEEATEN TROUBLE. LONDON, January 22. Officials of the Police Union state that) if tho authorities do not attempt to meet the men's demands, a striko ballot will be taken all over the country. EIGHT HOUR DAY. LONDON, January 23. The Railway Executive Committee has practically completed arrangements for the establishment of an eight-hour day from February Ist. The change wiil be effected gradually, ultimately necessitating largely increased staffs. Meanwhile tho men will bo paid on tho basis of an day. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received January 26th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jnnuary 23. The Federation of General Workors, at a special meeting in London, decided to demand a forty-four hour week. GLASGOW WORKERS' THREAT. (Received January 26th, 5.5 p.m.,/ LONDON, January 23. The Glasgow municipal workers, inchiding tho tramwayß, gas, water, and electricity employees, threaten to strike for a forty-hour week on Monday. Shipbuilding and other workers on the Firth of Forth, with the exception of the engineers, havo readied a similar decision.