The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-10
BY CHARLES ASHLEIGH
Especial 10 The DaiIv Workerl


Special TO The Daily worker)
LONDON, Feb. 10 (By maiD .-On
Saturday, February 16, at noon, the
great British dock strike began. This
+, strike is unequalled in the annals Of
the struggle of the dock workers, as
LIT is the first completely nationwide
kconfiict in which they have engaged.
All previous strikes have been of a
sectional nature, confined to one or
more ports, but never has there been
a strike which affected every port in
Britain, from the largest to the
smallest. Thus begins a new chapter
in solidarity.
I went to-day for a walk in the
great dock neighborhood of London.
1t was like a Sunday or other holt
day Hardly a man was to be seen
on the water front. Here and there,
perhaps, in the long vista of miles of
docks, you would see a little group
of half dozen strikebreakers, en-
deavoring to cope with the immense
accumulation Of goods which lie upon
the wharves. But most of the docks
We're completely deserted.
There was one exception to this,
however. And that was in the case
of the National AmaIgamated Steve
dores', Lightermen's and Dockers'
Union, an organization which possess
ses members only in London, a small
union whose numbers were some
what swollen after the unofficial
strike of last year. The members of
this union remained at work-or,
rather, were ordered to remain at
work, for many of them did not
respond to the order. Many of them
tore up their cards in their union and
came over to the striking union, the
Transport and General Workers
Union. On the South side of the
river, however, some of the men re-
manned at work. Now, even those are
on strike, for, last night, the smaller
union ordered its men to come out
with the rest. So, now, complete
solidarity prevails.
Nearly 10000 men are on strike.
From all parts of the country come
reports of the firm attitude of the
men. There is general satisfaction
among both leaders and rank-and-
file militants at the success Of the
movement.
At the Dock Gate.
The lockers are striking for two
shillings a day increase in wages, and
for the guaranteed week. This las.
means the decentralization of the
work. The. method at the British
docks is that, in the early morning
or before each shift, the lockers
stand in their crowds at the dock
gates. At the appointed hour, the
gates open, and the foremen step out
He then selects, one by one, the men
whom he requires, and the rest &c
disconsolately home. BY this method
a decker is never sure of employ
ment. When a ship has been dis
charged or loaded, he does not know
when he will get his next job. This
insecurity is one of the worst fea-
lures of the industry. The workers
besides the increase in pay, also wish
to stabilize their employment. They
demand that a fund be created, by
which each doocker may be guaran-
teed a fixed minimum weekly wage
Ten Dollars a Week.
Owing to the ubiquitous system
above described, there are about 50,-
600 lockers in the country who aver
age about three days work a week
thus earning under two pounds
weekly--a miserable wage, which, in
the case of married man with
children, is less than he would receive
as unemployed pay from the author
tiles. 1t is against these degrading
conditions that the lockers are now
fighting.
In 1921, when the employers
started their offensive, the lockers
were forced to retreat. The retreat
went on until they had lost, thru a
series of wage reductions, six shill-
ings a day.
Now, at last, the retreat has stop
ped. The lockers are desperate
They are striking for the bare neces
stiles Of existence--and they are
determined to win.
The port employers organization
in reply to the mems demand, stated
that they could not afford to pay the
two shillings daily. They Offered
one shilling, and to submit the other
shilling to arbitration. This, the mer
refused.
But, could the employers afford tC
pay the two shillings? Let us look
into the facts, and see what truth
there was in the pitiful wall of the
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