The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-03-17
The Crisis in the Engineering Trade
London Letter to The Daily Worker from Tom Mann

DEADERS of The DAILY WORK
~ Err will know that there is trou-
BILE on amongst the machinists and
all other adult workers, the employees
of the Hoe Printing Machine makers
in London, being branch Of the New
York firm.
For close upon two years nego-
tiations have been carried on inter
mitently between the engineering
firms and the representatives OF the
trade unions as the unions had put
IN a claim for 20 shilling week adj
vance in wages Give dollars) this
on a national scale. The employers not
only refused to grant any increase
but insisted on the men increasing
the working hours per week from
forty-seven to fifty.
This met with determined resist
ance by the men and negotiations
were broken off. Having failed on a
national scale some Of the districts
decided to make attempts on their
own account, amongst these was the
London district committee OF the
Amalgamated Engineering Union
whose members number seven hun
dred out of the nine hundred en-
Moves of the firm of R. Hoe and co.
But the organized bosses were not ia
vorable to district negotiations and
refused to negotiate with their en-
ployes. The employees then refused to-
work overtime until negotiations
should open up. The firm then decided
on, other tactics and discharged
several union men and almost imme-
diately seven non-union men decided
upon a stay-in strike, and following
on this came the lockout of all adults
by the firm.
National Lockout Now Threatened.
THE employers then informed the
4 unions that they will not take part
in any conferences or meet on any
question until the men at Hoes re-
turn to work. Today, Monday, March
1. Hoes men have met and unani-
mously decided not to return altno
the union executives have instructed
them so to do. The men are not re-
ceiving union monetary support Of
ficially but the members in SYM
pathy with their attitude are subscrib-
ing to their maintenance. Tomorrow
the seven union executives of the
unions to which the men belong are
meeting to discuss the situation and
the bosses have given notice to the
unions that not only must the men at
Hoes return but that should any at
tempt be made locally, sectionally or
nationally, notices will be served on
all the men in the unions concerned
all over the country to cease work
and as matters now stand the notices
will be given on Saturday March
TO terminate March 10, the number of
men affected in the first instance be-
ing 100000.
This means a very serious situation
and the complications are many. II
the rank and file are determined to
face the responsibility of insisting
upon attention the first difficulty will
be with their own unions. But it is
not difficult to understand their ex-
ASPIRATION when it is realized that the
machinists are receiving a less wage
than that received by many laborers
and unskilled men generally.
There is little hope Of the men win
ming unless they get the backing of
their own unions and also Of the gen.
eral council Of the Trades Union Con-
gress. Should the unions Immediately
affected call on the general council to
help the men dt would be difficult for
them to refuse, and in that case the
men could win. All who have correct
knowledge as to the very serious re-
auctions made in the wages of these
engineers are in full sympathy with
them in trying TO force an improve
ment.
Strike at Government Repair Depot
AT Feltham, Middlesex, there is a
"A dispute that may extend to many
other similar depots. At the depot
referred to heavy repairs are carried
on and civilians have been discharged
and soldier mechanics put in their
places. The men contend that this Is
part OF the governments preparation
TO cope with the situation in the
event OF a strike. the putting Of men
in military service or the training of
them and holding them In readiness
for emergencies Is held to be serious
menace 10 the mems position and is
an open threat to them In showing
aoiidas&tv with thar fellowa. Henca