LABOUR UNREST.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16434, 30 January 1919, Page 7

LABOUR UNREST.

UNAUTHORISED STRIKES

(Bv Gable.—Prc«s Association. -Copfright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Afisoci.Uonj LONDON, January 27. The most notable feature of the ( strikes is that air are unauthorised by Trade Union leaders. They are mostly I organised bv the sliops' committees. s The Hon. li. S. Home, Minister of Labour, is not. iuterieriug, bocauso the J Ministry of Labour must support tho Trade Union executive. _ BELFAST IN DARKNESS. j LONDON, January 26. j The position in Belfast is serious. The ' streets are in darkness, and candles are < the only means of lighting in houses. Church services have been abandoned. In tho hospitals, whero there are many • soldiers, the cooks are unable to prepare the meals. Many industries are • likolv to be paralysed by Monday, including tho spinning and weaving mills and bakeries. The shipbuilding and engineering strike in Belfast began quTetly. Forty thousand workers are out. ] STRIKE COMMENCES. (Received January 30th, 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 28. The Glasgow strike began in a snow- i storm. Tho municipal services are not i affocted. The strike officials declare 1 that the men are still at work, but ' will como out on Tuesday. The Edinburgh strikers came out in ; | defiance of last week's agreement when the employers conceded a forty-seven hours' week. All the Belfast shipyards, engineering shops, electric power stations, and gasworks have closed down, together with tho spinning and other factories dependent on gas and electricity. Workmen and workgirls promenaded the town in spite of . the blinding snowstorm. Tlie shipbuilding employers are considering the advisabieness of a lock-out until atter Easter. Tho gravediggers iiavo joined the movement. Utoceived January 30th, 1.3U a.m.) LOMJOiN, January 28. Some' rioting occurred at iielfast. Police charged the crowds. RAILWAYMEN'S DEMANDS. LONDON, January 26. The Railwayman's Conference in London to-day carried a resolution taking a serious view of tiio Premier's so-called apatny respecting the railwayman's demands for higher wagos anu improved working conditions, and adding mat if the Government uesires to prevent a national stoppage on February 9th it must negotiate immediately. Mr Lloyd George's unexpected return to London this week is attributed to tho labour unrest. (Received January 29th, 8.45 p.m.) LONDON, January 27. The National Union of Railwaymen also demanded that meal hours should be included in the eight-hour day, and expressed its willingness to support a six-hotir day. A NEW UNION. (Received January 29th, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 27. The colliery managers and foremen in South Wales have formed a union, and applied for a minimum wage and shorter hours. The coal owners are given 14 days in which to recognise the union. Otherwise the managers and foremen will stop work. CLYDE POSITION UNCERTAIN. (Received January 29th, 8.45 p.m.) LONDON, January 27. The labour storm centre is now on the Clyde. The position is uncertain, as it is.'unknown what support the strikers' leaders command. There has been a series of meetings over tho week-end. Some favoured an immediate strike, some a postponement, and others favoured awaiting developments. The latest reports indicate that' the stoppage will be general. Several of the largest yards and works, including Harland and Wolff's and Beardmore and Co.'s, are involved. There is the same uncertainty regarding the municipal strike in Glasgow. It is now believed the tramwaymen and electrxcar workers will remain at their posts, but a greater likelihood is that the bakers will strike. Mass meetings of the Forth shipyards' workers and engineers resolved to strike to-day. (Received January 29th, 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, January 27. The Clyde strike has commenced. Most of tho yards ar« affocted, but nowhere ia ther e a general stoppage. Forty thousand Belfast workers are idle. DOCKERS COME OUT. (Received January 29th 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, January 27. Four thousand Manchester dockers struck owing to a foreman refusing to join the union. EMPLOYERS CONFER. ("Tho Times.") (Received January 30th, 12.30 a.m.) • LONDON j January 28. The shipyard employers on the Thames conferred, with a view to approaching the strikers. (Received January 30th, O0 a.m.) 1 LONDON, January 28. > The London strike was precipitated , by 'Thames shop stewards, who, indig- ; nant at a fortnight's fruitless negotiai tions on the question of advances, called a meeting on Sunday, which decided by an overwhelming majority to stop work. [ STRIKE COLLAPSES. (Received January 30th, 12.30 aJn.) LONDON, January 28. Tho Fifeshire miners' strike is collapsing. Many thousands of men have resumed work. GOVERNMENT CONCERNED. (Received January 30th, 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 28. The political correspondent of the "Daily Express" says the industrial unrest is causing tho Government much anxiety. Mr Bonar Law is remaining in London to watch developments. Tho lack of discipline in the Trade Union ranks is due to the pernicious propaganda which has been waged in industrial areas during the war, but the time n coming when the Government will find it impossible to put the screw on the employers in the settlement of dia--0 putes. A Welsh Democratic League has been 1 formed to conduct a propaganda for ■-1 sound, progressive reform, to counter- , I act the activities of revolutionary i- bodies. ff ! The cablo naw s in this isauo accredited to "The Times" has appear d in that journal, 8 but only whore expressly ftaica is such oetrs tho editorial opinion of "The Times.