New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-28
BIG DOCK STRIKE ENDS
Three Months Struggle in Lon.
don Caused Great Suffering.
MANY NEAR STARVATION
Failure to Organize General
Walkout in England Leads
TO Final Settlement.
IBy Cable 10 The Tribune.)

London. July 21.-The dock strike
.,d.d to-day. and 5000 men will re-
,,,rn 10 work on Monday. Thirty thou
sond more will go back to their en-
,,oyrnent as opportunity offers. The
leaders issued statement, saying that
~,ather than accept abject humiliation
arc decided on the immediate resump-
ton of labor"
7. Is understood that the men are TO
,asume work on the terms in force be-
fore the strike started. The majority
Of the employers consented to make
new agreements with the separate
unions, but positively refused to recog-
r,ze or deal with the Transport Work
srs' Federation. Starvation brought
The strikers TO terms. over 81, 5OOOOO
has been lost In wages since the strike
began, on May 20. and the loss to en-
ployers exceeds 81. 10000. The utmost
distress has existed In the East End for
week. thousands of the wives and
children OF the strikers literally starV-
Ing,
r. Williams. general secretary Of the
Transport Workers Federation, said
to-day: we adopted the only course
open 10 us. Our position was becoming
steadily worse. Any attempt on our
part to prolong negotiations would
have been taken advantage of by the
employers to force US into abject eur
render"
The renewed failure of the attempt
10 call national strike when the dock
workers Of Hull refused yesterday to
10 out marked the end. Some Of the
leaders lost the sympathy Of the public
by uttering threats of violence. Soma
Of the employers are TO meet on Mon
day to discuss the mems demands.
The strike leaders assert that they have
secured assurances that the agreements
between the employers and the workmen
which were IN force before the strike be-
gan will be kept intact.
The dock strike, which involved dock
isborers. carmen. lightermen and other
branches OF casual. lsborers. and has
caused so much distress In the shipping
district OF London. was originally brought
about BY a dispute between the workmen
and their employers over the engagement
Of Q non-union workman. This man vas
a foreman who refused 10 Join the union.
and the men, refusing TO work under his
orders. were locked out. on which the
committee OF the mems union ordered
several thousands 10 strike.
Endesvors were made 10 get the trans
port workers and lockers at other ports
IN the British Isles 10 join In q national
strike movement. but With little success.
The London lockers. however, continued
obstinate. and Lord Devonport. chairman
of the Port of London Authority and
leading employer. refused TO give way.
Several sharp conflicts took place between
the police and strikers, and indignation
meetings were frequently held 10 protest
against the action OF Lord Davenport.
On Wednesday OF this week nifty thou
sand OF the striking lockers met on
Tower Hill. ard Ben Tillett. their leader.
asked the men 10 bare their heads and
Join him in prayer. They then In unison
prayer: "Oh. God! strike Lord Davenport
aead'
Joseph Havelocl: Wilson. president CT
the International Seanen's Union, this
week tried 10 organize a national strike
once more, but his efforts failed, and as a
con equence the strike committee decided
that work should be resumed.