BIG STRIKE IN CANADA

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1919, Page 5

BIG STRIKE IN CANADA

UNION RECOGNITION THE CAtJBB" # ' TROUBLE LIKELY TO SPREAD, Ottawa, May W. ' Thirty thousand unionists have etrudt, ' 'demanding recognition of the unions. Hie-, city if) at a standstill, and almost with* - out food.—Aus.-N.Z. Oable Assn. Ottawa, May 15, Industry in Winnipeg is at a standstill :< owing to a general strike in sympathy \ with the metal trades for union recogniv tion. Some weeks ago these trades asked for ' - higher wages, shorter hours, and union : < recognition. The companies refused, but ' agreed to arbitrate. The unions refused arbitration on the principle of collect!?* bargaining. The companies thereupon ; agreed to the demands for higher wages and shorter hours, but refused to deal with any unions outside their own em- ' ployees.

To-day the climax was reached when the street tar employees, telephone, postal and elevator staffs, and thpoeeitiUl of clerks, stenographers, general work' ' men, and firemen came out. The stew < typers and pressmen joined the (trfltfr-. ; fwd the newspapers tuspended nuhli«|M Vl ' tion. The police walked "out, bus tfia " strike committee ordered'tliem to retain • duty to preserve order, Sufficient bakers were also retained'to supply bread to the hospitals, while a citizens' committee ' manned the fire stations.

Most of the (.hops closed .and did not. open until they received permission from the strike leaden, who claim that 96,0Q0 struck on the 10th. Bread and mUk ' depots have been opened to relieve dE»- - tress. A big force of police has be#n drafted in. There was some rioting 4Mb morning, and a few were injured. ; Manitoba Government employees flie demanding 50 per cent, advances "in wages. ■ On the 2<!th the strike spread to Calgary, Edmonton, and Saskatoon, lie postal employees refused to obey the Government order to resume. Volunteer ' postmen are delivering the mails. At Toronto the Labor leaders declare that 45,000 members of 60 unions will strike on Wednesday, the 28th, unlet* ' ' the metal workers' demands an cos- ' sidered—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.