Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-17
BRITISH FEAR FOOD
crisis IN WALKOUT
Strike of 10000 Dock
Workers May Make Million
More Men Idle.
By the Associa ted Press.

By the Associa ted Press.
LONDON, February ia strike
Involving 10000 well organized
dockniep. which started automatically
at noon today. will arrest the port
work of the whole nation. and If IT
continues for any considerable time
may also make idle another million
or more men concerned in auxiliary
waterSide work and dependent trades
and industries.
This lockers walkout ~ likely to
prove much more inconvenient to
the public than the recent railway
strike, in that any prolonged cessa-
ton of work at the docks would
prevent the unloading of. incoming
food and raw materialS-a matter
almost impossible for even the most
willing government to remedy.
Fails mt Mediation.
The minister Of labor tried his hard
est to prevent the strike materializ-
ing, but, owing to the obduracy of
the employers. especially those con-
nected with the port of London,
without success.
Premier Macdonald is spending the
week end in the country at Chequers
to get Il much needed rest. but il Is
hoped that next week he may take
some step in an endeavor to find
solution of the difficulty.
Having had ample notice of the
strike, the port authorities have been
able TO speed up the unloading of YES
sells and make other arrangements TO
meet the situation, so there is not
likely to be any immediate shortage
of food. But inevitably there will be
heavy losses from perishable goods
should the strike last very long, and
there is certain to be a speedy rise
In the necessaries of life.
Strikers Review Case.
Some people consider that the en-
ployerS' offer to submit the dispute to
arbitration ought to have been ac-
cepted, but according to a long his
tory issued tonight by Edwin Bevin,
secretary of the Dock Workers Union,
the men seem suspicious of the offer
of arbitration mainly because through
out the dispute, which already has
lasted several months. the employers
trary manner and refused any refer
ence of disputed points to third
parties. Moreover. the refusal Of the
employers to yield on the question of
decentralization makes the men de-
termined not to yield on the question
Of wages.
Port of London employers an
nounced tonight that the wages of
all men employed on London docks
will from Monday be raised by one
shilling daily. together with the
restoration of the same piecework
rates as were current in June, 1923,
and that work is offered to men on
this basis.
Picketing Is Planned.
Owing to this attempt OF the Lon
don employers to break the strike.
Mr.. Bevin announces that his union
will make elaborate picketing ar
rangemSnts.
II Is believed that some port en-
ployers in the provinces are less un-
yielding than those in London, and
there may be attempts next week
on the part Of the strike leaders to
start separate negotiations with en-
ployers In different ports with a view
10 making sectional bargains and
thus bring pressure to bear on en-
ployers generally.
a statement issued tonight in be.
half of the employers generally gives
as one reason for withholding the
full advance of two shillings the
disastrous effect 1t would have upon
other trades In the country, as In
deed we fear giving the first shilling
also may have"
Hits Dairy Imports.
The INST effects of the strike on
housewives larders probably will be
felt through the stoppage Of bacon,
eggs, butter and other dairy products,
of which large quantities come from
Scandinavian countries to Newcastle,
where about 5000 lockers are directly
affected.
At eighteen Scottish ports $4,000
dock workers are idle, about 5000
of them being in Glasgow. where the
nnloading of sixty steamships has
ceased.
The collieries also are directly az
fected, as South Wales ports have
about 10000 idle. thus affecting the
delivery of pit props and other mine
timber SO that thousands of miners
soon may be idle.
Regarding the White Star Line
Olympic, which Is scheduled to sail
from southampton next Wednesday,
her, but the company has arranged
she shall sail on time with pas
isengers, even il unable to embark
cargo.