BRITISH RAILWAYS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 16, 16 December 1932, Page 5

BRITISH RAILWAYS

STRIKE THREAT.

DEMAND FOR WAGE CUT,

Although there is no immediate prospect of a general stoppage, a grave view is taken of the tnieat of British railwayman to declare a national strike if the companies’ demand for a 10 per cent, cut in wages is pressed. The unions’ case is that further sacrifices on their part would be useless, and that nothing short of the coordination of road and rail services can save the railways from ultimate bankruptcy. Should the proposed reduction bo applied, they will instantly declare a strike, and to this end strike committees are already being formed, yet neither the companies nor the mon are anxious to see an open clash. Both are hoping that a way out will be found by the Government agreeing to implement some of the findings of the Salter report, which recommended, among other proposals, the equalisation of the burdens carried by the road' and rail systems by apportioning to each the transport of goods most suitable to it, by restricting the weight carried on the roads, and by heavy license fees on motor freight vans. At all events, the situation is such that only Governmental intervention can avert a crisis within the next four or five weeks. As regards the proceedings now claiming the attention of the Railways Wages Board, a minor sensation has been caused by a point raised by Mr H. J. May, a. member of the board, who questioned whether the cuts demanded by the companies would reduce wages below the irreducible permanent standard agreed to by the companies, and sanctioned bv the Ministry of Transport in 1920. Mr May has indicated that this agreement, which followed the big railway strike of 1919, was designed to stabiliso wages, and the board, therefore, has to decide whether the present application by the companies is a breach of the spirit and intention of that agreement. In effect, the companies are doing no more, after all, than to ask for reductions from the present wage rates, and not reductions in the permanent standards, although there is no practical difference from the workers’ standpoint. That the threat of a strike should be taken seriously is indicated by the strength of the unions chiefly concerned. There are, for example, practically no drivers outside the Enginedrivers’ Union, which is controlled largely by Mr John Bromley, who is recognised as the strong man of the industrial world. The National Union of Railwaymen is not so powerful, hut the president has declared that ho would rather see it smashed than agree to any further cut in wages. The original intention was to stage a lightning strike at Christmas, but this has been shelved in the hope that a way out. of the impasse will be discovered by the Government. Nevertheless, there is no prospect whatever of either side making any direct concession affecting its own interests.