Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-27
RAILROAD
WORKERS co OUT
Nationwide Strike, Effective at
Midnight, Ties Up United
Kingdom.
GOVERNMENT WILL FIGHT
Will Operate Trains With Armed
Force If Necessary-Issuc
One of Wages.
GOVERNMENT WILL FIGHT

LONDON. Sept, o6-All railway
workers in Great Britain were called
out at midnight Tho number Of union
men called out is approximately 600.
600 and other employees OF tho lines
such as clerks. will bring the total
number affected up 10 the million mark
The London underground men who are
members Of tho National Union OF
Railway Men probably viii be in
cludcd, as well as the omnibus and
tramway men
two conferences between the leaders
Of the railway men and Premier I.lovd
George and his chief Cabinet advisers
on tho subjects OF transportation and
industry. The dispute was purely a
question OF wages. tho mon demand
ing increases instead OF the govern
mcnt plan of Standardization OF wa GO <
on peace basis.
Airendy Paying Large Subsidy.
Lloyd George refused to grant tho
demands because the government is
already suhsidizinC the railways TO the
extent Of $500 600 600 yearly brcause
Welding the returns guaranteed TO the
owners Further increases in wages
would mean moro subsidy.
Britain is now threatened with pros
tration OF pll Industry. and London
and other cities with famine and cold
The supplies OF food and fuel i'm tho
be protractcd great suffering would
undoubtedly he cntailed
1t is TOO carly TO ascertain how gen
orally the strike order has been obeyed
but tho union leaders seem to have :,
hrm grip on tn" situation. The gov
ecrnment. however. is equally, firm in
ported that soldiers and sailors vii! bc
called TO operate the trains.
FncinE Most Serious Crisis.
Both government and railroad OIL.
o.n's oa,ia aEpce f. ,nat 'e sirING or,mEs .ne
rious crisis. Sir Eric Geddes. Minister
OF Transport. said last night
The government will night this
necessary. the armed forces. as we'll rs
the community itself. Will b" con
called for tho first iimc in tho history
OF tho nation. and will be protected.
The Sovernmn; CONDEMNS his
strike as unreasonanle ana Is deter :
sidcrs the strike menace 10 the life
OF the community and We will no:
hesitate 10 fsht il as long as We are
in power.
Workers Refuse Further Pnrleys.
1t is officially stated that the gov
ernmcnt is still! ready TO negotiate.
but . Inc workers refuse: 8. .,.o
and petrol and will conscript motor
cars TO carry food supplies for the
The War Onicc has announced that
all army leaves and demobilization
plans have been suspended.
Tho situation is without parallcl and
threatens 10 surpass tho condition cN-
itinG IN the darkns, days or the war.
The railway worfers werc moved to
bring the matter to an issue by their
fear that the government intended 10
withdraw the special war bonuses in
tir process of rcadjustinE the wage
scale on Il peace basis.
Would Stnndnrdfzc Wages.
They were assured that this was not
the intention of the government; that
what was contemplated was merely
standardizlt ion OF wages in relation
to the cost of living.
This assurance cid not satisfy the
men. who presented demands for a
dehnite wage scale free OF war bonus
complications, rather than an agree
mcnt based on shifting conditions. They
insisted that Standardization III all
cases he III, and not down. Low paid
men as we'll as those receiving high
nay have been receiving a fiat war
bonus: Therefore it's withdrawal would
mean more TO the former than to the
latter.