The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-14 00:00:00

THE STRIKE.

PROCEEDINGS IN LONDON.

The men, until so recently employed in the great
engineering factories, having now unfortuuately much
leisure on their hands, neturslly are anxious to meet to-
gether as much as possible, in order to talk over their pre-
sent prospects, end to listen to the encouragements which
the more sanguine of their body offer. Every piece of in-
telligence, however little authenticated, is greedily devoured,
and in the absence of avowed declarations and direct com-
munications from the association of master., the expulsion'
!aid to have fallen from individual employers arc eagerly
discussed, and every indication of a decided move on either
part is anxiously canvassed.
In the midst of all this excitement, however, whilst
plenty of rumours are afloat, there is little really accurate
intelligence to be communicated. In London the number
of men thrown out of employment has not yet been ascer-
tained, but it will no doubt exceed 1,000. The men who
are thrown out of employment are entering their names in
hooks for the purpose in the different districts, and the exact
returns will he completed in a day or two.
It is satisfactory to find that no aecoonts have been re-
ceived of the turnout of any men from the great railway
engine shops. The men at the railway stations generally
are very little subjected to the piecework system, nor does
it exist much in London, but is stated to be almost entirely
confined to the manufacturing districts of the north. Over-
time was, until recently, very general in the railway shops,
but, now that the plants have been greatly increased, sud-
den emergencies do not so frequently arise; awl by a sys-
tem, adopted at all the large stations, such es Wolverton,
Ashford, Crewe, Swindon, Stratford, and the rest, of having
a relay of fresh men for the night, the necessity for over
time is dispensed with.
Whatever number of men may be thrown out in the pre-
sent crisis, it should be stated that ordinarily the society
hes not less than 600 claimants on its bounty. At the time
of the last report there were 221 members on donation, re-
ceiving 10s. weekly, 30 ditto receiving 7a. weekly, 167 on
sick fund receiving 10s. weekly, 10 on ditto receiving ss.
weekly, 2 on ditto receiving 3e. Gel. weekly, /it members on
" trade protection " receiving 15s. weekly, and 23 on super-
annuatiou receiving 6a. weekly. Total, 609 recipients;,
weekly cost, 2531. 12s.
Yesterday, meetings were held at the Sun, Blackheath,
at which a number of men still in employ reported that
their several shops had determined to devote one day's I
wages per week toward, the support of their brethren; at
the Crown, Lambeth, adjourned in consequence of the
numbers to the Teetotalshall, Lambeth-w;dl, of the men of
all classes recently in the employ of Messrs. Maudslay end
Field, where resolutions were agreed togenerally approving
of the proteedings of the executive; at.ltateliff-crose and
elsewhere votes are being taken on the proposition to ad-
vance 10,0001. for the co-operative scheme, but the returns
will not be completed until the 20th.
Last night there was a meeting of the executive council
of the Amalgamated Society, convened for the purpose of
organising committees and appointing treasurers to receive
subscriptions from the public and from the mea in employ-
ment towards the carrying out of the co-operative project,
and providing fur the immediate support of the non-society
men thrown out of employment in consilie.mcc of the pre-
sent movement. Upon this subject a resolution was agreed
to to request each member of the society who was in em-
ployment to subscribe a day's wages per week toward, the'
support of their less fortunate brethren. It was also deter-
mined to appeal to the public on their behalf.