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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0818.PDF
pending the result of the inquiry by the Government intothe merits of his dismissal. We refer to the matter editorially on p. 789. The following is a summary of the announcementmade by the Minister of Munitions to the workmen's repre- sentatives :— " The Minister of Munitions has during the last two daysconferred personally with all the parties concerned in the dispute at the Alliance Aeroplane Company's works. Hehas come to the conclusion that neither side is wholly free from blame. The strikers have committed an illegalityin leaving their work. They have also thrown over their regularly constituted trade union leaders. On the other hand,the Minister cannot feel that the' management has been instructed or sympathetic. Neither side have shown them-selves,,in the course of the dispute sufficiently alive to the grave responsibilities imposed upon workmen and employersalike by the present situation of the war. Both sides have indeed intimated their willingness to accept arbitrationand to be bound by its results ; but it is impossible to arbitrate on a matter that is at the moment the subject of a strike.The workmen, however, declined to resume work unless Mr. Rock (the chairman of the Shop Committee) is re-instatedpending the results of the arbitration. Mr. Rock himself, and the trade union authorities concerned, tendered to theMinister an undertaking that, if he were reinstated tem- porarily, he and his comrades would strictly conform to allthe rules of the establishment during the process of arbitration and would be loyally bound by its findings. The firm,however, were unable to entertain this proposal. The dead- lock was complete, and the area of the dispute was continuallybeing widened throughout the country. "It is believed by the workmen generally that the firm inquestion has opposed the legitimate development of the shop steward and shop committee movement. The Minister,without pronouncing a final opinion, has formed the view that this belief is not wholly unfounded. Certainly it wouldhave been preferable, having regard to the representative position of Mr. Rock, to have proceeded against him by aprosecution under the Munitions of War Acts rather than by summary dismissal. It would be intolerable that at a momentlike this an industry so vital to the safety of the country should be thrown into confusion by a conflict of this kind.The Minister, therefore, has felt it his duty to invoke his legal powers as far as they may be necessary, under the Defenceof the Realm Act and the Munitions of War Acts. In con- sequence he has directed that the establishment in questionbe taken over forthwith by the Government. It may take a few days for the Minister to assume effective control.Priority of-employment in this factory under the new control will be accorded to all previously engaged there, provided theyimmediately apply for such employment. An inquiry will be held into the circumstance? of the discharge of Mr. Rockfrom his late firm, and should such inquiry show him to be to blame his dismissal will follow. Meanwhile the strikers at thisestablishment are reminded that as soon as the firm against whom they have struck has been taken over by the Govern-ment, they are no longer strikers, but merely unemployed or idle workmen. It is accordingly the duty of these menand all others on strike in sympathy to resume work imme- diately. Failing such resumption, the Minister will usehis powers against them under tire Defence of the Realm Act and the Munitions of War Acts." A settlement was arrived at on this basis, and wasaccepted by the men's representatives in the following terms :— " That we, the National Woodworkers' Aircraft Committee,London District Aircraft Committee, and other representa- tives of the workers (both metal and wood), hereby pledgethe whole of the men and women now on dispute loyally to abide by the decision of the proposed inquiry if Mr. Rockbe allowed to start work as soon as the Ministry of Munitions has assumed the effective control of the factory, and that ifRock be acquitted, he shall receive compensation from the date of his dismissal from the Alliance Aeroplane Company.Further, we hereby recommend an immediate resumption of work at all shops now on dispute." The following letter has been sent to Mr. Lloyd George and the Minister of Munitions by the London Master Builders and Aircraft Industries' Association with reference to the recent strike of aircraft workers :— "July nth, 1918. " Sir,—As a number of the members of mv association are affected by the London Aircraft strike, I am instructed to place on record this association's view of the very un- satisfactory way in which the Ministry of Munitions has dealt with this matter. There can be no (^her opinion formed in reading the Press notice than that the Ministry of Munitions JULY 18, 1918. has in effect censured the firm struck against, whereas thetrue record is that the firm only endeavoured to maintain proper order and procedure in its establishment, which wasmet with defiance by the man Rock, who has not had the sup- port of the recognised trade unions. " My association is most astonished at such an attitude,having regard to the opinions expressed by the deputation who attended before Mr. Wolfe and Sir Thomas Munro andothers on Monday last, when several of my members were present. fc*|Pfc*l« " My association is also surprised to find Labour beingconsulted to the exclusion of the employers' association, considering the questions were such as to involve the wholeindustry.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant, " S. B. DEPREE (Secretary)." ' H B H PUBLICATION RECEIVED. Telegraphy, Aeronautics, and War.F.R.S.E., M.Inst.C.E., F.Ae.S., &c. and Co., Ltd. Price 16s. net. By Charles Bright,London : Constable NEW COMPANIES REGISTERED. HAITHWAITE AVIATION CO., LTD.—Capital £1,000,in £1 shares. Acquiring business of and dealer in aeroplanes and parts thereof carried on by F. Haithwaite as a separatebusiness at 10, Alfred Street, Leeds. First directors : F. Haithwaite and A. M. Wenman. SYNTHLACS, LTD.—Capital £20,000, in 17,000 pre-ference shares of £1 each and 60,000 founders' shares of is. each. Acquiring certain patents for synthetic shellac, resinand the like, substitutes for celluloid, vulcanite, dope and similar substances, &c. First directors: W. T. R. Bindley,A. W. Wellen and A. D. Dulcken. Solicitors: Walter Martin and Co., 322, Queen Victoria Street, E.C. H H NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. IN order that ««FLIGHT" may continue to be pub- lished at the usual time, it is now necessary to close for Press earlier. All Advertisement Copy and Blocks must be delivered at the Offices of "FLIGHT," 36, Great Queen Street, Kingsway, W.C. 2, not later than 12 o'clock on Saturday in each week for the following week's issue. If you require anything pertaining to aviation, study "FLIGHT'S" Buyers' Guide and Trade Directory, which appears in our advertisement pages each week (see pages lvi, Ivii, and lviii). 3a, FLIGHT and The Aircraft Engineer. 36, GREAT QUEEN STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C. 2. Telegraphic address: Truditur, Westcent, London. Telephone: Gerrard 1828. SUBSCRIPTION RATES. " FLIGHT " will be forwarded, post free, at the following rates:— ~- ABROAD. d. *" s. d. 1 3 Months, Post Free.. 8 3 16 „ „ .. 16 6 2 12 „ „ .. 33 o UNITED KINGDOM. s. 3 Months, Post Free.. 7 6 .. ..14 12 „ „ ..28 Cheques and Post Office Orders should be made payable to the Proprietors of "FLIGHT," 36, Great Queen Street, Kingsway, W.C. 2, and crossed London County and Westminster Bank, otherwise no responsibility will be accepted. Should any difficulty be experienced in procuring " FLIGHT " from local newsvendors, intending readers can oblaip each issue direct from the Publishing Office, by forwarding remittance as above. 8l6
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