Danish Strike Situation Eases

Press, Volume C, Issue 29511, 12 May 1961, Page 13

Danish Strike Situation Eases

(N ZP.A.-Reuter—Copyngnt)

COPENHAGEN, May 11.

Representatives of 11,000 slaughterhouse workers and 5000 farm and forestry workers now on strike in Denmark have accepted wage proposals put forward by the farmers, it was reported early today.

The proposals will now be put to a ballot by members of the trade unions involved. Normal shipments of bacon will begin about a week after work starts, and 2000 tons at present lying in the slaughterhouses can be sent away almost immediately.

But while the wage agreements will end the strike of

slaughterhouse workers, protests have come from Leftwing trade union groups over the Government’s offer to farmers.

Some dockers have prevented supplies such as fertilisers being sent to fanners in retaliation against the farmers holding back food from the home market. During the strike many farmers fed their milk to their pigs. Forty thousand dockers, seamen and transport workers have been on strike for a month. In Aarhus harbour yesterday. 600 warehouse workers stopped work and called on the Government to reject the farmers’ claims.

A representative of the dock strikers said: "We have been on strike for a month without our moderate wage claims being fulfilled. "The farmers have negotiated for only a week and immediately the Government is prepareid to grant them millions.”

At Aarhus, Aalborg and Norresunby. pickets prevented fodder and fertilisers being delivered and told farmers they could collect their supplies only if they delivered milk to the towns. The Agricultural Council said the farmers last night would resume food deliveries today. The "blockade" of th» home market increased prices by as much as half and affected exports. Mr Viggo Kampmann. the Prime Minister, announced yesterday that after 10 hours of negotiation a compromise had been reached with the farmers' leaders. This will give farmers about 460 millibn kroner (more than £24 million! in tax relief and other compensation to cover higher costs.

Although the offer was approved by the farmers and Government representatives, the farmers said later they would not resume milk deliveries until the 11,000 slaughterhouse strikers returned to work.

New Helmet*.—The Australian Army’s new Ameri-can-style steel helmet* were worn in public in Melbourne for the first time today by men marching In the Coral Sea Battle commemoration parade.—Melbourne, May 11.