The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-03-29 00:00:00

THE STRIKES IN LIVERPOOL.

The labour-strikes have been continued during the
week, and, in most instances, they have been successful
in obtaining the advances demanded. The cabinet-
makers are now receiving 2s. a-week extra, upholsterers
25., corn-porters Gd. a-day, and plasterers Gd. day. The
movement among the nightmen has not been so successful,
owing to their want of funds ; most of them have returned
to work at the old wages. The strike of the porters at
the goods stations of the London and North-western
Railway was resumed on Tuesday. As stated last week,
they struck work on the previous Thursday, on a demand
to have their wages advanced from 245. to 275. a-week,
for the first class, and from 21s. to 245. for the scond
class porters. The superintendent, Mr. Cochrane, pro-
mised to represent their propositions to the directors,
agreeing in the meantime to pay the advanced wages.
They also demanded a diminution of the hours of
labour, and the payment of Gd. an hour for over-work.
The company then advertised for a large number of extra
porters in order to carry out the wishes of the men by per-
forming within twelve hours that which was not done in
less than fifteen or sixteen. The porters took offence, and
struck work ; the firemen, bookers, deliverers, loaders,
cranemen, hreaksmen, and others followed their example ;
and the entire work of the stations was stopped. On
Thursday the porters assembled at the King's Pierhead,
and adopted the following resolutions :—That the wages
of the porters be 245. a week; hours of work from six,
a.m., to seven, p.m., with no half hour for tea ; that the
shipping clerks be paid 275. a week ; that the goods re-
ceivers and goods deliverers be paid in proportion ; that
the sheeters be paid 245. a week, and a quarter allowed
them in the morning to make up fur the excessive work
in the evening; that foremen be paid in proportion to their
stations ; that the wages of the men should be paid weekly
instead of fortnightly, as. the latter system often involved
men with families in difficulties ; that all work after
seven o'clock in the evening should be paid for at 6d. an
hour, and portions of hours to be charged as full hours.
That no notice to quit the employ of the company be
given on either side. On Saturday the men congregated
at the King's Dock Pier, and appointed a deputation to
wait upon Mr. Poole, who told them that they were act-
ing illegally and improperly in leaving their work, and
explained the folly of striking for wages first and asking
for an advance afterwards ; that he would advise them at
once to return to their work, and then submit their wishes
in a proper manner, through him, to the directors ; that
any man was at perfect liberty to leave the company's
service on giving due notice, but not otherwise ; and
that, whilst in the service, he was equally at liberty to
apply for an advance of wages if he thought proper. Mr.
Poole then received their propositions in writing, and
promised to lay them before the Board of Directors at
their next meeting ; and, in the meantime, to pay them
the rate of wages agreed to by their superintendent until
the decision of the directors was known. This arrange-
ment being satisfactory, the deputation withdrew, and the
men, upon its being made known to them, instantly and
cheerfully proceeded to their work again. We are informed
that the wages paid by the London and Northwestern Rail-
way Company have been quite as liberal as those paid by
other companies, if not more so, to the same class of men
for similar services. No porter received less than a
guinea a week, and the most of them were in receipt of
24s per week. The cranemen and foremen were paid
from 24s to 30s per week, many of whom are not at all
dissatisfied with their stipends, but they complain, with
just cause, of the very late hours imposed upon them by
the public shippers and receivers of goods, whose carts are
employed at the docks and warehouses during the day,
and only use the railways at night.
The advance demanded by the goods porters of the
East Lancashire, and Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway,
was acceded to on Thursday last, and thus a second strike,
which was to have taken place at one o'clock that day,
was avoided.

There are certain ill-founded rumours in circulation to
the effect that a strike is contemplated by the borough
police. We believe there is no truth in the report, which
may probably have arisen from the fact that a considerable
number of men have given the usual month's notice to
quit the service.
. .

Yesterday (Monday), the men in the employ of the
master carmen of Liverpool struck for wages, and in the
afternoon a numerous meeting of them was held on the
Pier-head. It would appear, however, from the propeed-
ings, that the whole afflir arose out of a determination to
enjoy the Easter holidays. One of the speakers, who had
evidently been sacrificing to the jolly god, and who
answered to the call of " Nobby," proposed, as a resolu-
tion, that their wages should, i❑ future, be twenty-four
shillings a week and a pint of ale every night. This was
carried by acclamation, as was also a resolution that any
one working for less should have his nose broke. Those
assembled seemed more disposed to enjoy themselves than
to complain of any substantial grievance, and it is believed
that the whole affair will be over in a day or two.