THE HUNTLY STRIKE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 43, 21 October 1913, Page 6

THE HUNTLY STRIKE.

[Per Press Association.] Huntly, October 21. , ~ While the company assertsvtbat the union has caused a breach of the agreement made . last November by which they are liable to £SO a day penalty for not taking tv' sebr§tt ballot and not giving-six weeks’’notice, the Union on the other hand states that a clause in the agreement justified them in supporting the action of members who consider they have been victimised, and the Union declares that •there are sixteen distinct cases of victimisation, as while sixteen unionists were disnissed fourteen new men were taken on. It is understood that the union, when" "hotice was received that work' was to be slack, offered to divide among themselves all the woik the company required, thus übviatng

the necessity for the dismissal of any Of the men. When this offer was ro-

fused by the company they further undertook to conduct'a ballot amongst members as to what men should be '|jut ‘off; the ballot to be conducted 'finder the Union’s supervision. This, it J is explained, would have given single men a chance to give their right of work over to married men who were not in a position to stand a period of enforced idleness. The directors replied that they must reserve the right to use their own discretion as to whom they employed. It is calculaed that 500 men are out. The strike was decided on without the sanction of the United Federation, to whom the Union is affiliated, but the sanction of he Federation is unnecessary where victimisation is alleged or where the working conditions are considered to be dahgerous. While it is well-known that the Huntly Union is not in a condition financially yet to stand a strike, support is expected from the United Federation. The position wears a more serious aspect, as the fight is likely to be as prolonged as the strike twelve months aao. as both sides are determined.