CRISIS IN SHIPPING INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 887, 5 August 1910, Page 5

CRISIS IN SHIPPING INDUSTRY.

LOCK-OUT THREATENED. ALL WORK IN UNITED KINGDOM TO STOP. EMPLOYERS' ULTIMATUM. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. August i, 11.30 p.m.) London, August i. A number of drillers and caulkers at the Govan Dry Docks, •on the River Clyde, after removing some' plates and making a vessel unbeatable, struck with-, out giving notice. They demanded time instead of piece rates. The action was taken without the union's knowledge, and the employers were unaware that any dissatisfaction existed. ! ' In Juno last the Shipbuilders' Employers' Federation notified eighteen trades unions which had signed an agreement in March, 1909, regulating conditions, that there had been frequent strikes in contravention of the agreement. The employers added that at the next stoppage every member of the unions in the three Kingdoms would be locked out. In consequence of the occurrence at Govan the Employers' Federation has now announced that a lock-out will begin on August 13 unless the men resume to-day. Although the Boilermakers' and Shipwrights' Unions have ordered an immediate resumption of work, the strike continues. The executive of the Boilermakers' Union in June issued a cironlar endorsing the employers' complaint and condemning the men for striking without notice and without consulting tho local and national executives. A REMARKABLE AGREEMENT. The agreement of last year is a very remarkable economic evolution, and according to "The Times" it marks the most advanced step made in the interests of industrial peace, and even in tho economics of industry, since the previous engineering agreement of 1898. It it between the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation, comprising both • shipbuilders and ship-repairers all over the country, and some 2G trade unions. The fundamental jprinciplu of tho ugieoment is that there shall be no suspension of work, either by strike or lock-out, in any locality when a dispute arises, beforo the whole procedure of conciliation agreed upon is carried out. If the decision .is, against the employer, ho must bow to the grand conference or be expelled from the federation, in which case ho would be at the mercy of the trade unions. If the decision is against the workmen, they must bow to tho grand conference, or th«> wnol« vt th* federated shipyards will be locked out against all tho toades who are parties.to the agreement.