Strike Talks Feared In Jeopardy

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31098, 29 June 1966, Page 17

Strike Talks Feared In Jeopardy

(N.Z.P.A, Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, June 28. Britain’s striking merchant seamen will begin peace talks with ship-owners today as Mr Wilson prepares to name Communists who allegedly sought to extend the six-week-old stoppage.

Seamen’s leaders warned Mr Wilson last night that he would be “unwise” to make liis statement in the House of Commons today about ringleaders of an alleged strike plot.

Leaders of the 65,500-man union feared that his disclosures could have a shattering effect on negotiations for a compromise to end the strike, which has tied up 900 of Britain’s 2500 merchant fleet. A further indication of a possible hitch came last night when seamen at several ports outside London urged their leaders to hold out for the

| original strike demand of an 'immediate 40-hour week. The Seamen’s Union executive had decided on Saturday to accept as a basis for negotiations an offer by the ship-

owners, hinged on improved leave arrangements. The British Communist Party’s industrial organiser. I Mr Bert Ramelson, was asked ( in a television interview last I night if he thought he was ; one of those the Prime Minister had in mind. He replied: “Well, for the man . who resorts to the I smear, the innuendo, one can I believe anything.” He denied that the Communist Party had done anything improper to help proJong the strike. People from a‘l parties had tried to influence the seamen. The Com- ! munists had done so pub- ! licly.