The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-01-25
MANY LABOR
TROUBLES CON-
FRONT ENGLAND
The Year 1913 Promises To Eclipse 1912
in the Number of Industrial
Disturbances.

London, Jan. 2J.-Englani started th,
New Year with strike Of the tayicat
drivers, and ii the threats OF the la.
Dor leaders are only partially carried
out the present year will prove an even
more serious one individually than that
which preceded &, and 1872 broke all
records. Despite this the trade of the
country likewise broke all records.
While the taxi strike causes much in
convenience in the city, il is the dis.
putes in the Industrial districts that are
creating the greatest uneasiness. The
coal miners of Wales, who were the
hardest fighters in the last coal strike,
are again restless, being dissatisfied with
the award of the commissioner appoint
ed upler the act passed by Parliament
to end the last strike, fixing the mini
mum wage. A general conference is to
be he'd TO deal with the matter. IL is
certain that the owners will fight against
any increase in the cost of production,
as they have already lost to America
contracts for the italian government
and Egyptian state railways because OF
the high price at which they made ten
ders.
There are, however, two points against
general strike Of the miners. The
last struggle almost exhausted the funds
OF the unions, and under an old agree
ment the miners wages are increased
as the contract price of coal is raised.
As this price has gone up, the miners,
in the north of England, at any rate,
would probably be against another con-
test with the owners.
Another serious trouble threatened is
that arising from the agitation of the
seamen and firemen for a systematiza
ton of the rates Of wages and condi-
tons of service on board ship. The men
under the leadership of Havelock VIII
son. have been agitating for this for
years. They have asked time and time
again that a Cancellation board be APP
pointed by the owners and unions to
standardize the wages and conditions,
but the bulk of the owners have re-
fused In the hope of winning their i
point, the men went on strike in 1911 |
md demanded big increase in wages. |
The big companies granted the wages, |
md the smaller firms got their men
,ack at the old wages ana conditions. +
t is for these latter that the union is
low fighting.
Mr.. Wilson has announced that when
he union had exhausted all means Of /
diplomacy the executive would fix date
when the seamen would take a "va-
alton" ain our union" he explained,
the word strike is very vulgar and
asty word to use"
More trouble too is brewing in the
otton trade. The Operative Cotton
Primers have given notice Of withdraw
| from the Brooklands agreement, which
as been in operation for some years,
nd which covered all disputes in the {
otton spinning trade controlled by the ,
nployers' federation. The action of the L
Primers was determined by the alleged
of the agreement in deal
IL with complaints of bad material,
hich have been continual source of
to the owners and operatives,
nd which have increased enormously
gently. The card room workers also
ave grievances against the agreement,
nd they too have given the necessary !,
onth's notice OF withdrawal. (,
The London bakers are also preparing :
II struggle for better wages and :,
lorter hours. tn some parts of Lon =
in the condition OF the working bak-
) is deplorable They have to work
ng hours in poorly ventilated cellars j
r the merest pittance. They have or &
nized, and by large majority have