ENGLISH TRANSPORT STRIKE SPREADS

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5299, 11 January 1947, Page 5

ENGLISH TRANSPORT STRIKE SPREADS

(Press Assn-

GRIM FOOD 0utl00k MINISTRY'S EMERGENCY PLAN A SE'CRET

-Rec. 9.30 p.m.)

LONDON, Jan. 10. While food is congesting the ports and rail and cold storage depots, the meat, fish, provision, and fruit markets of London are all paralysed for the fourth day by the carriers' strike. Although the outlook for rationed goods for the week-end is very grim, neither the unions nor the markets have yet received any emergency plan for the distribution of London's food. The Ministry of Food will not disclose the plans which it may introduce. It is strongly rumoured at Smith'neld that troops will be drafted into the market. A Smithfield porters' spokesman "Said: "Should the Government attempt to introduce blackleg labour of any kind, ineluding troops, we will all walk out." Reuter states that Ihe -strike has spread to Birmingham, Leeds, Coventry, Wolverhampjton, Stoke-on-Trent, and Oxford. New strikers in London include the drivers of a large company engaged in steel constructional work.

Th'e strikers complain that ncgotiations on wages, hours and holidays have been proceeding for nine months without satisfactory settlement. The Ministry of Labour, in a statement, said the strike was against trade union advice and a breach in some cases of special agreements designed to safeguard mails. The proper course for men on strike was to go back to work and abide by any decision of the Wages Board, with the assurance that a decision would be reached on the basis of a fair and impartial hearing of thfir elaims. No other assurance could be given them. "The Minister will not countenance any attempt to secure rates and conditions forcibly by unconditional means," said the statement. The immediate reaction at Smithfield to the Ministry's statement was one of determination not to return to work until what the men described as a satisfactory settlemen: was reached. A spokesman said: "The maehinery for dealing with the dispute is antiquated and needs oiling."