The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-13 00:00:00

Threatened Great Strike.

The agitation now going on among the engine-
drivers and firemen of the various railway com-
panies throughout the kingdom, concerning wages
and the hours of work, is assuming a serious
aspect. The servants of this class of two large
companies have, because their demands have not
been favourably received, already tendered their
resignation, and it is understood that unless some
decision is soon come to by the railway companies
there will be a general strike of drivers and firemen.
The memorial of those of the London and South-
Western Railway was forwarded to the directors of
the company yesterday, and other similar memorials
are about being sent in. The effects of a strike on
such a gigantic scale, and of so important a
character, can hardly at present be realised.
Associated as they all are with their clube and
societies, they have expressed their full determina-
tion to stand out, as they "ask for nothing that is
unjust or unreasonable, but to that which they are
entitled."

The specific demands put forth by the men are :
That ten hours a thy, or a run of 150 miles, b 3 reckoned
a day's work, and that overtime be reckoned two hours
and a quarter.
That engine-drivers in London and districts receive for
the first six months, Gs. ; second six months, 6s. 6d. ;
end of twelve months, 7s. Gd. per day. Firemen : First
s:x. months, 35. Gd.; second six mouths, 4s. ; end of twelve
month, 4s. Gd. per day. Engine-drivers in country dis-
tricts : first six mouths, 65.; second six months, 6s. 6d. ;
end of twelve mouths, 7s. per day. Firemen : first twelve
months, 3s. 6d; end of twelve mouths, 4s. ; and after three
years' service, 4s. Gd. per day.
The firemen be promoted to be drivers according to seni-
ority or length of service, and that Sunday work be paid
A a day and a half.
Other things are asked for in various ways on
different lines.

The directors of the North-Eastern Company
have just replied to the memorial addressed to them
on the 15th ult. They state that the directors
"regret exceedingly that any considerable number
of enginemen and firemen in the company's service
should have given their support to the demands
it contains. The wages at present paid are fully
equal to, or rather above, the current wages of the
district, but if these six demands were complied
with the amount now paid by the North-Eastern
Company for drivers and firemen's wages would be
increased by more than 80 per cent." Referring
to two resolutions in the memorial, in which
the engine-drivers and firemen ask to be pro-
moted according to seniority, and that, "in any
case implicating seriously any of the men, the case
to be settled by the arbitration of a deputation of
the men in conjunction with the board of directors,
or Mr. Fletcher," the directors state, " that they
involve questions of discipline of so serious a
character that, deeply impressed with the responsi-
bility which rests upon them to use the best means
at their disposal to ensure the safety of those who
travel on their lines, they would not hesitate to re-
ject any conditions which embodied these require-
ments. Deciding on the memorial as a whole, the
directors have no doubt or hesitation in refusing to
accede to the demands the memorial contains."
A meeting of the Engine Drivers and Firemen's
United Society, to take the above reply into con-
sideration, has just been held, when it was proposed,
seconded, and unanimously agreed :
That the North-Eastern men, having been contemptu-
ously repulsed by the board of directors in the respectful
attempt to obtain a redress of their grievances, the central
committee recommend that they send in their notices at
once, and pledge themselves to procure for them the sup-
port of their follow members throughout the kingdom.
No answer having as yet been received to the
memorial of the men of the London, Brighton, and
South Coast Railway, yesterday morning the whole
body of engine and fire men sent in their notices to
the company.