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Chronicle (Levin), 15 December 1949, Page 5

; Reeeived Wednesday 7 p.m. LONDON, Dec. IR ; Unoffieial atrikes at. four electriea. -power stations, toiiight plunged large lareas of London- into total darkness and set . Christmas candles fliekering 12 days: to.o,- early. The strikes- threaten the -eity with serioua transport, industrial and commercial dislocation. It is feared that if they spread further the national grid — the system 'whieh distributes. power thrQughout Britain— may be affiected. Power workers at three stations stopped work yegterday over a pay dispute. Beeause servicemen were drafted in, the workers at ;Barking — the biggest power station in Europe — stopped work also. ! MoTe than 1400- raen _ at Barking ^ 'station streamed out of the building, and almost simultaneously the lights went out in many London subu-rbs, ;and electric trolly busea were 'brought to a standstxll. • Shopkeep.ers ;and housewives fumbled through the 'dark to light up deeorative candles they had been- reservin-g for Christmas. S'ervicemen were drafted into Barking, and , others were standing by tonight^ while Iworkers at other great London ^ power stations met to deeide what aetion to take. The strikers want payment of sp.e- ■ icial bonuses for working in partieu- j larly hot or dirtlv conditions- i-n- addi- | tioir to the 3|d an hour wage; rise ! recently granted on the understanding f that it would, in most eas.es>, super- j sede such speeial bonuses. The crane- drivers unloading coal j ships. on the Thames also struck. I Troops and naval ratings were [ drafted into three London power sta- ! tions last night. I The Government has plans ready for j a large scale emplayment. of servicemen ; to keep the power stations-. running. If | the strike stoppage grows the proeian' ; ation of ^n emorgeney chnnot be rni- j ed out. A London power stoippage would i aeriously . curtail Britain "s whole: export I drive as well as home pro4uc.tionh whtcfi [ depend on the. 2.4-liour autput 'Qf po- | Wer stations harnessed to, the nation- ; wide grid. When the power stations shut be- | eause of' the lack of fnel in the great ; winter freeze early in 1947,, about 1 £100,000,000 was lost to the country 's recovery in a mon-th-. i After a meeting of delegatea repre- | sentxng 24. Lo.ndon. power statxonsCTate j last night, a- statement was issued ;sa,v- \ ing no station would handle "black | eurrent or aecept black labour'* and de- I nand;ittg the withdrawal of all services ! person-nel from the four affeeted plants, j