GRAVE INDUSTRIAL SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 114, 7 February 1919, Page 5

GRAVE INDUSTRIAL SITUATION

NATIONAL ACTION MOOTED

BY CONFERENCE OF TRADE UNIONS

FURTHER STOPPAGES

REPORTED

By Telegraph"—Prees Association—Gopyright

London, February 4. The grave industrial situation was the principal matter under discussion at yesterday's Cabinet meeting. It is understood that the Government continues to refuse to intervene in unauthorised strikes, because it would be subversive of the authority of the elected leaders of organised labour, and play into the hands of the mischievous section which is making an effort to effect a social revolution. The subject will unquestionably figure largely in Parliament, which opens today. . , ■ , In view of the recent developments, a movement is afoot, backed from responsible quarters, to convene a representative trade union conference for the purpose of dealing with industrial troubles on national lines,

It is therefore suggested that the Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress should invite all representatives of organised labour to discuse current disputes and initiate national action for their settlement.

The outlook became considerably worse on Monday night, owing to the Electrical Trade Unions demanding Government intervention at the Clyde, Belfast, and elsewhere. The decision was reached after three hours' private discussion. No figures- of the voting transpired. The resolution demands intervention with a view 'to the introduction of legislation making a national forty hours' week operative with the object of absorbing all unemployed in the country. In the event of the Government refusing, the strike begins at 6 o'clock on Thuirsday evening. Representatives of the Electrical Union will present the resolution to the Minister for Labour (Sir R.S.Horne) today and will report the Tesult of a further meeting on Wednesday. The decision involves ten thousand men, who claim to control every power station in the metropolis.

A resolution in almost identical language was carried by 68 votes to 29 by a conference of trade unions in the London district threatening to sfa'ike in all engineering trades in the district unless the Government legislates few a fortyhour week. A delegate from the Clyde attended and had an enthusiastic reception.

In connection with the tube motormen's complaint that they are not allowed time for meals during the eight hours' day, Sir Albert Stanley (President of the Board ot Trade) has issued 'a statement thnt the arrangement to which the unions agreed provided that where time was allotted for meals it should be exclusive of the eight hours. The London Electrical Trade Union, in reference to the tubes dispute, has agreed that the executive shall meet Sir Albert Stanley to-day, meanwhile delaying the extension of the strike.

Several other stoppages are reported, notably of eight thousand Carmarthenshire miners, who caused twenty-one anthracite pits to be idle. The trouble arose over the management's efforts to pu/t down absenteeism. A hundred of the men who absented themselves gave as an excuse that ,they had attended funernla. Six hundred were summoned and were fined on Saturday, and this precipitated the strike. The strikws are making an effort to bring out the whole of the men on the anthracite coalfield.

The "Daily Chronicle' , states that seven thousand London hotel workers have "decided on an immediato strike. They demand an eight hours' day, and the abolition of the system wheroby tips are , pooled.' $A large number of London boilermakers nnd fitters and others have resumed work in defiance of the Strike Committee's instructions.

The newspapers unanimously echo the growing resentment of the public at the constantly recurring dislocations over trifling disputes, and endorse Sir Albert Stanley's statement that there are no justifications for the declaration of strikes, which are intended to bully the public into forcing , the Government to surrender unconditionally. Thero was a further development later last night, the Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firement deciding to stop tho district railway, which is the principal underground line linking up the city with the western and south-western suburbs. Tho drivers ceased work this morning. Tho strikers' officials adopt a threatening attitude, and stats that the strike will he extended to other electric 'train services in London nnd clsewhcro unless a settlement is reached.

The Amalgamated Society of Engineers has issued a spirited protest against unauthorised strikes. It urges unionists to ignore the invitation to strike on Thursday. Messrs.. Yarrow and Company have decided gradually to diminish the output of their shipbuilding yards on the Clyde, simultaneously increasing the output of their similar works at Vancouver. This decision is partially due to the constant labour disturbances.—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • (Rec. February 6, 7.45 p.m.) London, February 4 The London coal workers and loaders are striking for a forty-eight-houa , week and £5 weekly.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NATIONAL LABOUR POLICY URGED. (Rec. February 6, 7.45 p.m.) London, February L Mr. J. R. Clynes' considers that the industrial situation is so grave that it justifies a. special session of the General Federation of Trades Unions, representing five million workers, -to carefully consider a national labour policy, which the Government and the employers must heed, provided the rank and file of the workers will guarantee their loyalty.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CABINET ACTJONWELCQMED PRESS ADVISES FIRM HANDLING. (Rec. February 6, 9.35 p.m. London, February 5. The announcement that Cabinet contemplates immediate steps to end the intolerable situation is welcomed on all sides. Newspapers of every ehade of opinion recognise that firm, unhesitating handling is essential. There is no doubt the\ public .would prefer to aubmit to further inconvenience than to obtain relief by making concessions to a caeual meeting of workmen who presented a loaded revolver at the Government's head. The "Daily News," which ordinarily espouses Labour's claims, says that any other course would be fatal. Society would be at an end and nothing would survive but anarchy and violence.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE CONCESSION OF AN EIGHT HOURS' WORKING DAY. (Eec. February 6, 10.15 p.m.) London, February 5. The Press Bureau . states that Mr. Bonar Law, on behalf 'of the War Cabinet, declined to receive a deputation from the Society of Locomotive Engineers. Mr. Bonar Law pointed out that when the Cabinet agreed to an eight hours' day it wae clearly understood by the Government and the engineers that it was to be an eight hours' working day; hence there was no room for misunderstanding. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Ass-n.-Reuter. THE UNAUTHORISED STRIKES OPPOSED TO THE RESULT OF A RECENT BALLOT. (Rec. February C, 10.15 p.m.) London, February 5. Tho executive of the Associated Society of Engineers has decided to suspend the committees and secretaries for the unauthorised strikes at London, Belfast, and tW Clyde. The negotiating committee of the engineering and shipbuilding trade unionists met in the* House of Commons. They considered the stoppages, which were contrary to the opinion of tho majority of trade unioMßts as expressed jn a, re-

oent ballcii'on the forty-seven-hour week. The committee resolved to urge the shipyard workmen at Belfast, Clyde, and the North-eatjt Coast to resume immediately, and thus enable the committee to meet the employers with a view to a settlement. The committee strongly deprecated the strikes threatening the London a.rea, where a stoppage will not serve any useful purpose, and is calculated to weaken trades unionism and react to the workers' detriment, besides imposing unwarranted hardships on loyal unionists.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AUTHORITIES CONSIDER POSITION GRAVE GOVERNMENT PREPARED TO TAKE DRASTIC ACTION. (Rec. February C, 11.20 p.m.) London, February 6. , Th<> authorities taite the grayest view of the strike deadlock. There is no immediate prospect of an improvement, and even a. fear of extension, possibly involving the great trunk railways, but the Government is prepared to taka the most drastic action to defeat the menace. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FIRM STAND OFRAITwAY EXECUTIVE CABINET SHOULD NOT GIVE WAY. London, February 4. The extension of the strike to the district railway power-station cuts off the power of the tramway sen-ice over a wide area, from Tooting along the Thames. Valley to Hampton Court. The railway executive is taking a firm attitude towards the strikers. It is believed that the executive has succeeded in convincing the War Cabinet that it should aot give way, and thus no negotiations are proceeding. The Cabinet again discussed the situation. It is. a significant fact that a number of soldiers on leave, pending demobilisation, have been recalled by telegram, and this suggests that the Government intends to guard the power stations, and will probably introduce military or voluntary staffs of officials.—Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NATIONAL STOPPAGE THREATENED. London, February 6. The Electrical Trades- Union, accompanied by the London committee of the engineering allied unions, attended the Ministry of Labour and presented the ultimatum. The secretary of the Electrical Union declared that the electrical and engineering workers.were taking an unselfish view of the serious national situation. The proposed strike on Thursday was intended to remedy the unemployment ' question by securing legislation limiting the week's work to forty hours. Half a million men and women were i already unemployed in Britain owing to the stoppage "of war work, yet there is practically no unemployment among the electrical workers at Bromley. The secretary of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen says that the society's executive supports the men. It intends calling out the steam train drivers on lines having an electric .section in the first instance, but if the men do not receive more honourable treatment within a few hours, there will be a national railway stop-page.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RECOGNITION OF RAILWAY . CLERKS' ASSOCIATION. London, February 4. Mr. Bonar Law, after a long conversation with Mr. Lloyd George over the telephone, subsequently presided at a Cabinet meeting, which, it is understood, decided to recognise the Railway Clerks' Association. Cabjnet also considered proposals'which it is hoped will settle the tube difficulty. ' , The newspapers point out that inter-', vention in tho railways dispute was inevitable, owing to their being controlled by the State—Aus.-N.Z. Cable-Assn. (Rec. February G, 7.-15 p.m.) . . London, February i. The Government has recognised tho Railway Clerks' Association, thus averting a slationmaeters' strike—Aua.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

PARALYSIS OF RAILWAYS BEGUN (Rec. February G, 11.10 p.m.) London, February G. Tho paralysis of the etcam railways began at midnight. A number of drivers and others on tho London and Southwestern nnd London-Brighton lines havq already struck. Tho South-Western officials hare issued a notice that flip service might be reduced or entirely suspended to-day.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

ARMY SERVICE MECHANICS STRIKE, (lee. February 6, 11.40 p.m.) London, February 5. Four thousand Army Service mechanics have struck at Kempton Park, declaring that civilians should now do repairs.; The National Union of Prison and Police Officers • has successfully applied for affiliation to tho Labour Party. It is reported that the Government is prepared to find engine crews to carry on the railway service, is necessary.— •Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION NOT JUSTIFIED , London, February 1. The Press Bureau reports: The Ministoy for Labour received the two resolutions passed by the unofficial conferences of the London Engineering and Electrical Unions, demanding that the Government should intervene at the Clyde, Belfast and London, with a view to introducing legislation to secure a national forty-hour week. Agreements already exist between the unions and employers fixing a fortyseven hours' week, and the executives of the -unions concur in the Government's view that the circumstances do not justify Government. intervention.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ELECTRICITY SUPPLY HEAVY PENALTY FOE A BREACH OF CONTRACT. (Eec. February 6, 10.15 p.m.) London, February 5. The Piress Bureau states-.—A new'regulatiqn makes a breach of contract' of service interfering with electricity supply liable to six months' imprisonment or a fine of .£loo.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter, ■ SOUTH WALES COLLIERIES INVOLVED London, February 4. The electrical workers in South AVales struck for a forty-seven hours' week. The collieries and other big undertakings are seriously involved. The employers pointed out that the withdrawal of the men from the collieries would result in flooding and serious damage. The strikers meanwhile have agreed that the men shall remain in the mines.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FIVE THOUSAnTwATTERS STRIKE London, February 4. Five thousand waiters in London hotels are on strike. Only the head and second waiters are working in the great hotels, including the Savoy and Carlton. Even the kitchen hands have struck. Reduced menus are served with difficulty.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. CANCELLATION OF WAR TAXATION DEMANDED London, February 4.. The executive of the Derbyshire miner? is advising the men to refuse to pay any more war taxes. "Responsible Ministers during elections," it states, "promised that war indemnities would be recovered and Germany made to pay our costs, therefore the executive calls on tli<? Government to cancel war taxation, revert to the pre-war income tax, and remove the war taxes on food."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE GLASGOW STRIKE SCENES AN INQUIRY DEMANDED. (Rec. February (!, 7.15 p.m.) London, February 4. The Labour members of the Glasgow City Council are demanding an inquiry into Friday's strike scenes and the immediate withdrawal of the troops from Glasgow,—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn,