LOCK-OUT ENDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1001, 16 December 1910, Page 7

LOCK-OUT ENDS.

—— I —o- .. '. ' LONG LABOUR FIGHT OVER, BOILERMAKERS TO RESUME WORK. By Telegraph—Press Assnciation-Ccryrielit ... London, December 11. : The. voting of the boilermakers on tho question.of acceptance or rejection of tho agreement, concluded at tho Edinburgh conference resulted as follows:— For acceptance -. 13,715 Against 1,290 Majority for acceptance... 12,425 Work will accordingly be resumed tomorrow. BUSY TIMES AHEAD, A BOOM AT GLASGOW. ' London, December 14. "There is an unprecedented boom in shipbuilding at Glasgow. . ■ The ships under construction include twenty battleships,' cruisers, and destroyer's, and merchant vejjels aggregating--200,000 tons. A STIFF, STRUGGLE. In conscquence of the action of 400 . men in breaking the agreement between the Boilermakers' Society and tho Shipbuilding Employers' Federation, the members of the society were locked out by the employers on September 3 last, and have' sin"!, been idle to the number of 40,000. Much .distress ensued, and the funds of the society, became exhausted. Under tho Shipyard National. Agreement, made between the Employers' Federation and 19 leading shipyard trado unions, it is provided that there, is to be no stoppage or interruption of work until any question arising has "been fully discussed in conference. . The men have generally been dissatisfied-with this agreement, and several stoppages occurred. It was alleged by them that the confirenccs led'to interminable delays, and worked to their disadvantage. Finally tlis federation decided on the: extreme step of a national. look-out. .

The employers demanded that tho Boilermakers' Society should give guarantees for tho future observance of the National .Agreement. A ballot was taken by tho executive of the' society, and the men were asked whether they would empower, the executivo to give the employers an assurance that in future tho terms of the National Agreement would be observed, and that there Would bo no more irregular stoppages; and whether they would empower the council to call a representative meeting if necessary. The voting was us, follows Supporting the Executive -. 5,431 Against. 10,321 Majority Against ......v.. •' d; 830 Tho Boilermakers' . Society, in a. day of inertia and. supineness among "amalgamated"' societies generally, had madu itself a model .of energy 'and pursued-a strong and consistent- trade policy. It was the first (says the "Manchester Guardian") to. provide an adequate salaried staff to attend to its business affairs. It originated the. of- district delegates, whoso work consists exclusively in bargaining with the employers. Under the able and statesmanlike, direction of Robert Knight, perhaps the greatest trade unionist since the movement began, .. its central office was equipned with an expert professional ■ staff, and was able for many years, when elsewhere arbitration and. equitable bargaining were: impossible and the • strike ' ruled the day, not only.to meet employers on a evel from which just arrangements could be secured, but to keep, any unruly-mem-bers of its own effectually in check. Mr. Knight's successors were, not able to en-, force'the same discipline ;iu--the society as he had done, and much local discontent arose- - ,