LABOR UNREST.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1919, Page 5

LABOR UNREST.

THE RAILWAY TROUBLE. CONSIDERATION BY CABINET. By Telegraph.—Press Anan.—Copyiljljt. London, Sept. 25. Tlio railway workers accepted Sir Auckland Geddes' invitation for a con-ference.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn. Received Sept. 26, 10.50 p.m. London, Sept. 25. According to an official statement the Prime Ministei and Mr. Bonar Law, accompanied by other members of the-Gov-ernment, freely and frankly discussed the whole situation from the viewpoint of the National Union of Railwaymen. There will be a further discussion at noon to-morrow.—Aus, N.Z. Cable Asaociaation. A FRANK DISCUSSION. MISUNDERSTANDING REMOVED. TRANSPORTERS' DEMANDS. Received Sept. 20, 7.35 p.m. London, Sept. 23. At'the conference of railwaymen, Sir A. Geddes sat for several hours, during which there was a full and frank discussion. It is hoped now that the misunderstanding regarding the Government's intentions in regard to the matter of the war wage has been removed, an amicable discussion on standardised rates will be possible. A conference of transport workers is meeting in London to demand a minimum of 10s per day for all dock, wharf, and riverside employees.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. . SITUATION EASIER. GOVERNMENT PREPARING FOR * EMERGENCIES. Received Sept. 27, IS a.m. London, Sspt. 26. Thdugh the general disposition is to view the railway difficulty .hopefully while negotiations continue, the situation is regarded as easier. Several newspapers warn the public against exaggerated optimism, The Daily News deprecates the tendency in certain quarters to believe that the railway men are bluffing. The real danger of a strike consists in the men's determination to refuse any scheme involving the reductioh of their earnings. Tile paper adds that the Government is taking a most serious view of possible developments. There was an important Ministerial Conference this afternoon, attended liy railway managers, and including the Food 'Controller, Mr. Shortt, and Mr. Churchill. Thin is interpreted to mean that the Government is laying plans to maintain and protect essential supplies. The Daily Express states that the official allusion to a full and frank discussion means that the Government has plainly and gravely warned the railwaymen that it'would employ its entire resources in the event of a strike.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, STEEL TRUST AND LABOR. Washington .Sept. 25. Giving evidence before the Congressional investigation of the steel trust strike, Mr. Fitzpatrick, the men's representative, said that the sftel trust had raised large sums to prevent trades unionism establishing itself in the industry. When the unions were formed' the trust reduced working hours and increased rages in an effort to forestall Labor organisation. The conditions in the industry were atrocious.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TYRANNY OF STEEL TRUST. Received Sept. 26, 3.20 p.m. Washington, Sept. 25, Mr. Kirkpatrick added that union men were unable t'6 talk in the streets in Steel Company cities without attack. The police entered houses and attacked unionists. The company also employed gunmen to shoot anyone prominent in labor circles. The President himself asked the head of the Steel Trust to arbitrate in the present dispute, but Mr. Gary refused, alleging that .Tifpan is violating the "gentlemen's agreement." -Ans. N.Z. Cable Assoc. STRIKERS AGREE TO SETTLEMENT. Received Sept. 26, 8.30 p.m. Washington, Sept. 25. Mr. John Fitzpatrick. organiser of the steel workers, assured the Senatorial Committee that the str u r>Ts will agree to a settlement- of their dispute by an arbi-' {.ration a bonrd appointed by President Wilson. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. STRIKE OF 1901 RECALLED. The present strike of United States steel workers recalls the so-called "steel strike" of the year 1901, which was a contest between the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers and the United States Steel Co ..mition. It began on July 1 and lasted until September, 1901, when work was resumed in accordance with an adjustment agreed to on September 13. The difficulty grew out of an attempt to adjust a sliding scale of wages with some of the constituent companies of the United States Steel Corporation, which was then a new company. This corporation was perfected after the difficulties really began, so that the Amalgamated Association ultimately had to confront the new powerful corporation. The real difficulty was not a question of wages, hours of labor, or rules or conditions of work, but a contest for recognition of the right of the workers' association to demand that the mills be subjected to the rules of the union, a demand which wis positively refused by tlx? United States Steel Corporation. There were no grievances, as intimated; it was clearly and solely a conflict on the demand for recognition in the tra'de union sense, and it was the first great struggle in the United States that was conducted solely on this issue. The result of the contest was a defeat for the Amalgamated Association, which not only failed to secure the terms demanded, but lost further because some of the mills which were previously subject to the union's rules were taken out and made non-union mills. The strike was accompanied by no serious disorder. The association did not have the hearty endorsement of a large number of workmen, as it was not a. movenftnt to redress any grievance, but a fight for a principle. Officers of the Amalgamated Association estimated that the number of men out of employment during the strike averaged 30,000 per day. At a conservative estimate there must have been a loss of more than 4,000,900 dollars in iwagti.