HISTORY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 85, 14 August 1913, Page 4

HISTORY.

A writer in the Christchurch Press’ recalls the fact that the twelfth of August, 1881), saw the outbreak of the great dockers’ strike, one of the biggest industrial troubles which England has had to cope with. It originated in a small local dispute at the West India Docks round the discharging of a certain cargo, and spread rapidly among the dock labourers of the port, who took the opportunity of demanding an increase in the rate of pay fr time-work from 5d to (id,

the abolition of contract and piecework, and the remedy of other grievances. They were joined by the stevedores and lightermen, who organised a “sympathy strike,” and in a few days not less than 16,000 men had struck. For the most part, the strikers were unconnected with trade unions which could give them strike pay; but during the month that the trouble lasted, the public at Home and abroad subscribed nearly £50,000 in support of the strikers, over threefifths of which amount came from Australian supporters. Attempts on the part of the leaders to extend the area of the dispute, and cause a general stoppage of the industry, led to an alienation of public sympathy, and the formation of a conciliation committee to settle the trouble. After one abortive attempt at conciliation, an agreement between the dockers and the directors was arirved at on September 14th, under which the men obtained the greater part of their demands.