UNION NOT BLUFFING

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1924, Page 7

UNION NOT BLUFFING

MR. BROMLEY'S COMMENTS

AGAINST GOVERNMENT BLACKLEGS.

(REDTIIt'S TEI.IOKASI.I , (Received 22nd January, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, 21st January. . Determination to adhere to the Btrike decision marked a crowded final meeting of the London members of the Locomotive Society. The secretary, Mr. 'Bromley, said: "'We are going to strike back." He declared that he had received a • message threatening to shoot him if a strike occurred, but such threats would not prevent their protest against the general managers demanding their pound of flesh. The society wps determined to stop the never-ending slide down into pre-war conditions. They would not object to any Government running the mails'and"-' carrying food to the people, but any Government, even a Labour Government, which helped to run private railways during a strike would be lilackJegging. 'lhc 'companies had been told that the union was bluffing, but they would find nine-tenths of the trains stopped at midnight. The men would cease work from one end of the country to the other. Reports as to the effects of the strike are still very conflicting. It is claimed at the offices of the Railway Managers that the vast majority of National Union drivers and firemen remain loyal to the union. A few here ami there have struck, i:: sympathy with Mr. Bromley's union,'. but most of them reported for work. Other reports state that at Warrington the members of the two bodies made a common cause in striking, and at Crevve the National Union men arc acting as strike pickets. In London, while Paddingion Station is congested with derelict main Hue trains, the situation at other London termini is not co bad. Officials are hopeful of keeping restricted services running. The under" ground railways, trams, nnd buses wore crowded to the fullest caoacitv this morning, and thousands of motor-enrs are employed bringing workers to the city.