On This Day, 20 July 1918

Birmingham Daily Gazette

Saturday 20 July 1918

MUNITIONS STRIKE THREAT.

DISPUTE IN MIDLANDS CENTRES.

OFFICIAL WARNING BY MINISTRY.

The Ministry of Munitions announced:

A labour dispute which may tend to a serious situation has begun in Coventry and other centres.

A large number of skilled munitions workers have handed in notions, which will take effect early next week, and lead to a stoppage in the production of some of the most vital and urgently needed appliances and munitions of war.

AN EMERGENCY.

Owing to the scarcity of skilled labour in the country, created by the needs of the Army and the grave emergency of the war, it became necessary some time ago to make sure that the skilled labour available was fairly shared among munition firms, and in some cases to place a limit on the number of skilled workers which particular employers and firms were entitled to engage.

The Ministry of Munitions, after a full explanation had been given to the responsible trade union leaders, issued instructions limiting for the present the right of employers in about 100 firms to add to the number of men on their staffs.

THE WORKERS’ RIGHT.

The workman’s right to leave his employment and to obtain work of national importance still remains.

The stoppage of work now threatened does not arise out of any difference between employers and employed. It is probable that there is at the root of the trouble a good deal of misunderstanding, which every effort is being made to remove, but the seriousness of the position with which we are threatened must not be underrated by anymore.

Persons, therefore, who incite others to cease work in these circumstances are exposing themselves to very grave responsibilities to their countrymen and to the law.

AN APPEAL.

Moreover, the position of munitions workers of the present time is one of exceptional privilege. It is already hard that men between 40 and 50 should be called up for the Army while so many younger men are left in the munitions factories.

Only the fact that these men are absolutely needed at their work and are loyally willing to do their work has induced the nation reluctantly to put up with what is, from many other points of view, unfair.

It is hoped that the high standard and fine record throughout munitions industries during the war, and especially during these months of extreme national danger, will not be marred by a dispute which, if prolonged, must necessarily lead to grave consequences.