THE LABOUR UNREST

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 107, 30 January 1919, Page 5

THE LABOUR UNREST

STRIKES UNAUTHORISED BY UNION LEADERS MR; LLOYD GEORGE RETURNING TO LONDON By TelegrapE—Press Association-Copyright London, January 28. Mr. Lloyd George is unexpectedly returning to London this week. His arrival is attributed to the Labour unrest. The most notable feature of the strikes is that all of them are unauthorised by the trade union leaders. Most of them were organised by the shop committees. Mr. R. S. Horne, Minister of Labour, is not interfering, because the Ministryof Labour must support the trade union executive—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GOVERNMENT ANXIETY LACK OP DISCIPLINE DUE TO PERNICIOUS PROPAGANDA. (Rec. January 30, 1.30 a.m.) London, January 27. The "Daily Express's" political correspondent eays: "The industrial unrest is causing the Government much anxiety. Mr. Bonar Law is remaining in London to watch developments. The lack of discipline in trade union ranks k due to the pernicious propaganda which hns been waged in industrial areas during the war, but the time is coming when the Government will find it impossible to put the screw on the employers in the settlement of disputes.—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE STORM CENTREJJN THE CLYDE . GENERAL STOPPAGE INDICATED. (Rec. January 29, 8.45 p.m.) London, January 2". The Labour storm centre is now on Hie Clyde. The position is uncertain as it is unknown what support (lie strikers' leaders command. There liavo been ii series of meetings over the weekond. Some favoured an immediate strike; others a postponement, while yet others favoured awaiting developments. Latest reports indicate that the stoppage will be general. Several of the largest yards, and works, including Harlaml and Wolff's and Beardmore's, are involved. There is the same uncertainty regarding the iiajiiicipal strike in Glasgow. It is now believed that the tramwaynien ■and electrical workers will remain at their posts, bat tlie.ro is a greater likelihood that" the bakers will strike. A mass meeting-of Forth shipyard workers and engineers resolved to strike to-day. The National' Union of Railwayrnen, at a meeting at London, also demanded meal hours, and an eight-hour day. and expressed willingness to support a sixhour day.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STRIKE AT CLYDE YARDS COMMENCED. (Rec. January 29, 11.10 p.m.) London, January 27. The Clyde strike has commenced. Host of the yards' are affected, but nowhere is there a genoral stoppage. Forty thousand Belfast workers are idle.-Aus.-jN T .Z. Cable Assn. SCOTTISH STRIKES SBBEADINO. (Rec. January 30, 1.30 a.m.) London! January 27. The Glasgow strike began in a snowstorm.' The municipal services are not affected. The strike officials declare that the men still at work will come out on Tuesday. The. Edinburgh strikers came out in defiance of lust week's agreement, when the employers conceded a forty-seven hours' week.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THAMES SHOP STEWARDS AFTER FRUITLESS NEGOTIATIONS STOP WORK., (Rec. January SO, 1.30 a.m.) London, January 27. The London strike was precipitated by tlib Thames shop stewards, who wero'indignant at a fortnight's fruitless negotiations on the question of advances, and called a meeting on Sunday, which decided, by on overwhelming majority, to stop work.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CftllTU WAII7C Pil) lIPJUCC oUUIn VVALIib IUI/UlilubJ MANAGERS AND I'OREMEN ISSUE AN ULTIMATUM. (Rec. January 29, 10.30 p.m.) London, January 27. The colliery managers and foremen of South Wales have formed a union and applied for a niiniinum wage and shorter hours. The coalownere are given fourteen days in which to recognise the union; otherwise the managers and foremen will stop work.—Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn. FIFESHIRE MINERS' STRIKE COLLAPSING. (Rec. January 30, 0.30 a.m.) London, January 23. The Fifeshire minors' strike collapsing. Many thousands have resumed work. - The shipyard employers on the Thames conferred with a view io approaching iho strikers.—"The Times." MANCHESTERJHJffiRS STRIKE (Reo! January 29, 11.10 p.m.) London, January 27. Four' thousand Manchester' dockers have struck owing to a foreman refusing to join the union—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RAILWAYMEN'S CONFERENCE NATIONAL STOPPAGE THREATENED. London, January 28. The RaihvaymenV Conference in London to-day passed a resolution taking a serious view. of what it calls the Prewiflr's apathy respecting the railwaymen's demands for higher wages and improved working conditions. Tho resolution added that if the Government desires to prevent a national stoppage on February 9 it must negotiate immediately .-Aus"-i\.Z. Cable Awn. SERIOUS POSITION IN BELFAST FORTY THOUSAND MEN ON STBIKE. ■ . London, January 2G. The position in Belfast is serious. The streets are in darkness, and candles are the only available means of lighting the houses."Church services have been abandoned, and in the hospitals, where there are many soldiers, it is impossible to cook the' meals. Many industries are likely to be paralysed on- Monday, including the spinning and weaving mills and the bakeries, and the shipbuilding, and engineering. The strike in Belfast began quietly, and 40,000 men are now out. The' shipyard workers at Belfast are to strike to-inorrow for a forty-four-hour week.'—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. January 30, 1.80 a.m.) London, January 27. Some rioting occurred at Belfast. The police charged tho crowds.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. January 30, 1.30 a.m.) London, January 27. All the Belfast shipyards, engineering shops, electric power stations, and gasworks have closed down together. Sp.inning and other factories dependent on gas and electricity are idle. Workmen and work girls promenaded the town, despite a blinding snowstorm. The shipbuilding employers are considering , the advisabieness of a lock-out until after Easter. Grave-diggers have joined the movement.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.