UNION HOPEFUL OF STRIKERS' RETURN

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5303, 16 January 1947, Page 5

UNION HOPEFUL OF STRIKERS' RETURN

(Press Assn-

transport troubles catering workers now take a hand

—Rec. 9.80 p.m.)

LONDON, Jan. 15. Officials of the Transport Workers' Union and members of the Central Strike Committee met for a conference this morning. The secretary of the Union, Mr. Arthur Deakin, tolc reporters before the meeting that he thought that it should now be possible to' get the strikers to agree to return to work.

At five of the London docks the dockers are not working, but the stevedores are staying on the joh. At another dock the stevedores are out, but the dockers are working, and at one dock, the position is normal. An unofficial meeting of London catering workers decided last night to instruet their committee to get in touch with the central strike committee. These catering workers say that they propose to ask the Government to withdraw the troops within 72 hours. If the trocps are not withdrawn, they will consider taking further action. A late cable states that on the eve of discussions for the settlement of the strike, between 2000 and 3000 London dockers decided to join abont 2000 already striking. The strike has also extended to Newcastle-on-Tyne, where transport workers rejected appeals from union officials and stopped v/ork in sympathy with the London strikers.

"Pomts" Food Becoming Rapidly 'Exhausted LONDON, Jan. 15. The long-suffering British housewives are so far the most directly nfl'ected by the transport strike, but Ihev are taekling their fc-od problems with amazing cheerfulness. Feeling about the decision of the men to .-tribe against the advice of their own union leaders varies a great deal, according to neighhourhoods.

In London's East End there seems to be general sympathy with the men'-s claims, and many housewives have? declared that they hope the men will stay c-ut "until their demands are met. At the same time they are glad that troops have been ealled in to distribute food. In other districts, Ihe men are strongly criticised for not following the union lead. One immediate etfect of the short supplies of meat, fish and potatoes is that housewives have had to dig deeply into the points with which they can draw rations from their grocers. If the strike continues and points become used up, many families are going- to become hardpressed to provide adequate meals. Some families are already existing on bread and cheese. In efl'ect there is not one but two strikes now, one by the transport workers demanding improved pay and shorter hours, the other by the workers who have come out because troops have been ealled in. It is being persistently pointed c-ut by the newspapers that the decision to call in the troops is not to break the strike but to ensure the distribution of food. The atmosphere in Smithfield Market was frigid for a start when the soldiers first began their "operation eatable," but after the strikers had watched the soldiers doing the unaccustomed work, many began to give helpful hints. One loaned a guardsman his gloves when he cut his hands carrying hony meat. Others dehionstrated the right way to handle meat, how to put it on the sc-ales and load and stack it. They told the soldiers where to get tea in little sho.ps rc-und the market. There was a good deal of greeting with mock military salutes. Soldiers Not Regarded As "Blackleg" Labour LONDON, Jan. 15. London's food distribution strike continues to spread. All the porters -at the Spitalfields vegetable market walked out. More than 1000 fish porters at Billingsgate did not start wc-rk, making ahout 8000 market porters and shopmen from the city's meat, fish, fruit and provision markets striking in protest against the use of troops to distribute supplies. Soldiers to-da.y again distributed I'oCTcIstuffs. From 1500 to 1700 dyivers are on strike jn Liverpool. About six food ships, some with large cargoes of eggs and butter, are unloading at Liverpool docks. The road haulage strikers' committee issued a statement requesting all workers to remain at work if not directly involved in the dispute, but to do everything in their power tcstop blackleg labour. The committee explained that "blackleg labour" did not refer to the use of troops. Only 2000 of London's 24,000 dockers are at present involved. Representatives cf 300 slaughterhouse men decided to join the strike. Road haulage industry employers and officials of the Transport and General Workers' Union agreed to a eonstitntion for a national joint industrial council, which will run parallel with 'the present wages bcard. The council will meet immediately the strikers resume work. If the men return to-morrow, the council. is prepared to meet the same afternoon for free negotiation on any points the unions like to put forward.