Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1919 — LABOR UNREST ALARMS BRITAIN [ARTICLE]

LABOR UNREST ALARMS BRITAIN

Nearly All Trades Demanding Either Higher Wages or Shorter Hours, or Both. BEER ISSUE AGAIN REVIVED Dock Workers Complain of the Quality of Beverage and Shortage of Supply—Unions Strong and Well Organized. ~ London.—The industrial unrest prevalent throughout the country is causing serious anxiety, not only to large employers of labor, but even to conservative labor leaders. The labor leaders taking this attitude include J, H. Thomas, general secretary of the Railwaymen’s union, who warned a meeting of postal workers who were demanding a 42-hour week, more holidays and curtailment of nijht__work, that, "the industrial and economic position of this country gives cause for alarm.” Demand Shorter Hours. The postal workers are only one of many trade unions which are demandingshorterhours with the present Or better ptjy. Up’ to this time the demands of the miners have been em-

bodied in thfe resolutions of the Southport Miners’ Federation, who demanded that the government demobilize all miners in the army and that wages other than war wages be advanced 30 per cent. The attitude of the miners has caused the most comment, as coal and its price more directly affect the public. It is estimated that to grant a 30 per cent increase in wages would send the price of coal up at least a dollar a ton. In addition to the miners, the shipbuilders on the Clyde and in other centers are agitating for a 40-hour week, with daily wages of £l. The men engaged in the same industry in Belfast threaten to throw down their tools unless they get a. 44-hour week. The carpenters throughout the United Kingdom are asking for a 47-hour week, and the iron molders, who recently got 47 hours, are threatening to strike unless this is lowered to 44 hours. May Go to Extreme* The dock laborers are putting forth a demand for 44 hours for day workers and 41 hours for night workers. They are also much agitated over the shortage of beer and the poor quality of that beverage, and during the week there has been much slacking, parties ularly at Liverpool, from the cause. There has been a temporary shortage of beer at some shipping points due to the strike of brewery who also complain of long, hours. All these unions are strong numerically and well organized, and from the tone of speeches at their meetings the members apparently are prepared to go to extremes in their efforts to have conditions of labor improved along the lines laid down in their respllitlons. » There al§o have been minor troubles in the labor world. One of these iffected the crew of the liner Adriatic. The sailing of that vessel foY New York with a full list of American passengers has been delayed several days, and there is yet no indication of a settlement.