The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-01-25
MANY STRIKES
THREATENED BY
BRITISH LABOR.
Present Year May Be Even More
Serious in Industrial Way
Than in 1912
NUMEROUS LINES Affected
Unrest Permeates Varied Fields
of Activity and Workers
May Quit Jobs
---
MUCH UNEASINESS CREATED

London, Jan. 25.-England started
the New Year with strike of the tax
frab drivers, and If the threats of the
labor leaders are only partially car
ried out the present year will prove
am even more serious one industrially
than that which preceded ii, and 1872
broke all records. Despite this the
trade II the country likewise broke all
records
While the taxi strike causes much
Inconvenience in the city, ii is the dis
putes in the industrial districts that
are creating the greatest uneasiness
The coal miners of Wales, who were
The hardest fighters i'm the last coal
strike, are again restless, being dis
satisfied with the award of the com
missioner appointed under the act
passed by parliament TO end the last
strike fixing the minimum wage
general conference Is Ia be held tn
ueal with the matter. II is certain
Increase in the cost of production, as
they have already lost to American
contracts for the Italian government
and Egyptian state railways because
of the high price at which they made
tenders.
There are however. two points
against a general strike of the min
crs. The last struggle almost eX-
hausted the funds of the unions, and
under an old agreement the miners
wages are increased as the contract
price of coal is raised. As this price
has gone up the miners, in the north
uf England. at any rate. would prob
ably be against another contest with
the owners.
Seamen and Firemen Rebel.
Another serious trouble threatened
is that arising from the agitation OF
The seamen and firemen for system
atisation of the rates of wages ana
conditions of service on board ship.
The men under the leadership OF
Havclock Wilson. have been agitating
Tor this for years They have asked
lime and time again that concilla-
lion board be appointed by the own
crs and unions to standardiZe the
wages and conditions, but the bulk oil
the owners have refused. In the hope
Of winning their point the men went
On strike i'm 1911 and demanded big
increase i'm wages. The big companies
granted the wages. and the smaller
firms got their men back at the old
wages and conditions. 1t is for these
latter that the union is now fighting.
Mr.. Wilson has announced that wher
the union had exhausted all means ol
diplomacy the executive would hX q
cate when the seamen would take q
vacation" "In our union he explain
ed. the word strike is a very vulgar
and nasty word to use"
Spnners and Bakers.
More trouble too is brewing in the
cotton trade. The Operative Cottor
Spinners have given notice of with
drawal from the Brooklands Agree
ment, which has been in operation 70
some years. and which covered all dis
rutes in the cotton spinning trade con
trolled by the Employers Federation
The action of the spnners was deter
mined by the alleged ineffectivenes
&C the agreement in dealing with com
plants of had material, which hav
been a continual source of annoyanc
To the owners and operatives. an
which have increased enormously re
Gently. The card room workers ais
nave grievances against the asreemen
and they too have given the neecssar
months notice of withdrawal
The London bakers are also prepar
ing for a struggle for better wage
and shorter hours. In some parts 9
London the condition of the workn
bakers is deplorablc. They have I
work long hours in poorly ventilate
cellars for the merest pittance. The
nave organized, and by large major
uy have agreed To go on strike unies
'heir demands are granted
Railroads and Docks.
throughout the railway world ther
~ considerable unrest over what ti
men call 'victlmization. They clan
mat any OF their number who al
known To he active In trade unionisi
are quickly gotten rid of by the com