GRIM WEEKEND OUTLOOK

Chronicle (Levin), 10 January 1947, Page 5

GRIM WEEKEND OUTLOOK

Press Assn.-

Food ffiarkets Paralysed In London TRANEPORT STRIKE SPREADS

3y Telegraph

•Copyrighi

Received Friday, 10.50 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 9. ' While food is congesting at oorts and rail and cold storage depots, the meat, fish, provision and fruit markets in Dondon are all paralysed for he fourth day by .the carriers' Lrike," says the Evening Standircl. Although the outlpok for upplies of rationed foods for .he weekend is very grim, i either the unions nor the mar:ets have yet received any mergency plan for the distrijution of London's food. The iinistry of Food will not dislose the plans which it might ntroduce. It is strongly rumoured at Smithfield fihat froops would >e drafted into the market. A

Smithfield porters' spokesman aicl: "Should the Government 'ttempt to introduce blackleg j.bour of any kind, including rcops, we will all walk out." Reuter's states that the •trike has spread to Birming*.am, ivhere employees of one •f the largest transhipment centres for the Midlands eased work. The strikers five "mands, which the Central rages Board will discuss on anuary 13, are: Firstly, a orty-hour week; secondly, an (ight-hour day; thirdly, foureen days' paid holiday; curthly, half pay during sick-v-Ks ; and, fifthly, the abolition -)f the accumulated week for wertime purposes. The strikj i's complain that negotiations ! t wages and hours have been l n oceeding for nine months j ithout a satisfactory.. settle- ! nent. ! The Ministry of Labour, in ; • statement, said the strike was i gainst trade union advice and : breach in some cases of the pecial agreements designed to j safeguard the men. The pro1'ier course for the 'men on J 'trike was to go back to work hnd abide by any decision 'of I he Vvrages Board, with the ashufance that a decision would be reached on the basis of a j ' air and impartial hearing of pheir claims. No other assuriance could be giventhem. "The IMinister will not countenance jany attempt'to secure forcibly ! i-ates and conditi.ons by uncon- ! --.titutional means."

The immediate reaction at Smithfield to the Ministry's statement was one of determination not to return to work juntil what the men described 'as a satisfactory settlement ! was reached. A spokesman said that the "machinery for dealing with the dispute is antiquated and needs oiling." The Ministry of Food announced that unusecl ' meat coupons this week would be | available next week. | The Msike jhas als.a:^pr.ead -to" Leeds. tlovjehtfy, Wolvbrhaihpton, Stoke-on-Trent and Oxford^ as well as Birmingham. / New strikers in London include the drivers of a large company engaged in steel constructional work.