The daily worker., 1924-05-03
The Labor Government in Deep Waters !.

ness to make some concession points
the way to the settlement. Shaw will
aim to get the other bodies to accept
the compromise and then persuade the
union to accept less than it set out
for.
Difficulties of Metal Workers.
The position Of the Engineering and
shipbuiIding workers is more difficult.
On February 10th, a thousand engi-
neers in Southampton struck work,
against official orders, for an advance
of wages. Their rate was AIS. sd. per
week. one of the lowest amongst en-
gineering workers in any of the lead
ing towns. Their rate before the war
was 40I6. If the cost of living deter
mined the wages, they should be re-
ceiving today 72I6. On February 25th
they were Joined by the shipyard
workers, raising the number on strike
to 6,000 At the same time the En-
gineering and Shipbuilding Federation
of Unions has demand for 10I- in
crease before the employers. The en-
ployers are trying to use the South
ampton strike to stop negotiations on
the national 1OI- demand. The unions
appear to protest, but all the leaders
in turn have been down to Southamp-
ton to persuade the men to return to
work and not to spoil the National
negotiations" The men regard the
threat of national lockout as bluff
and refuse to return to work. And so
far they have proved quite correct.
The employers should have carried
out their threat yesterday, but again
deferred action. The men want an ad-
I fditional 7s6d on to the national de-
lland and are intent on getting it from
the local employers. And again there
is likelihood of the Minister of Labor
stepping in with a Court of Inquiry
nominee A. ]. Cook stands an excel
Governments Troubles.
But the governments difficulties are
still greater with the miners. The de
cision of the miners to reject the offer
of the mine owners and call on the
government to proceed with the min
ers' minimum wage bill placed them
in tight situation. The miners had
met in conference on the morning
after the defeat of the labor govern
ment on parliamentary procedure
Ostensibly this defeat was on the
question of appropriating time for the
clearance of government work. Actual
ly it was the maneuvering of the mine
owners to prevent the introduction of
the private members bill on the ques-
tion of the miners wages. This bill
demanded a minimum wage on the
1914 basis plus extra, equal to the rise
in the cost of living. By appropriating
private members time the bill would
be defeated. The miners conference
recognized this and turned down the
mine owners offer with view to fore
ing the government into straight
fight on the miners question, with the
'overnment adopting the private mem
bers' bill as their own.
The labor government does not want
to face this issue. 1t is argued that
the miners question is a sectional
question and not one which appeals to
even all the workers, and therefore
it would be fatal for the labor gov
ernment to face certain defeat and
have to appeal to the country. The
Minister of Mines, Mr.. ShinwelI, one
of the slippiest opportunists in the
government, is accordingly striving
for all he is worth to secure a settle
ment of the dispute by direct negotia-
tion between the miners and the mine
owners with the Minister of Labor as
mediator. In this policy he is sup
ported by the New Leader" and Mr..
F. Hodges who, now he is employed
at the admiralty, feels himself some
what free to give his advice as an
oniooker and appear as bold parti-
I'D M n IN NJ n 4