As a result, we are told, the work: ers went out on strike' yesterday morning and closed the gates of the printing and editorial departments, declaring that no one should be allowed back until the dismissed men had been reinstated, Many, who] realized that it was the Winter Solstice yesterday and that Chinese New Year was approaching, at first refused to give in to the demands of the agitators, but they were intimated and compelled to Teave their posts under threat of personal violence.
'According to a representative of the management the demands of the striking employees were incorporate ced in a Joint letter from the Sales Union anid the Labourers' Union of Paoshan Road, as follows:—
1, That no employee should be dlismiased because of his connexion] with the August strike, and tho} employees dismissed since the strike should be reinstated.
That the manner of dis. tributing the medical allowance] should be amended.
3. That no fees should be! charged to any class of workers} for the use of the Club House] building That the company should not! increase the number of working hours during the night shift, 5. That the workmen be ailowed to speak freely to each other during working hours.
6. That no time restrictions} should be placed on employees when they visit the lavatories.
According to the joint letter, the employees set 5 p.m. Monday, as the latest hour for a favourable reply from the management, threatening to strike otherwise. Two, representatives of the management and five from the two unions met before that hour, but failed to come to an agreement on the first item, the reinstatement of those dismissed after the August strike. Points two and three were agreed to} by the management, the fourth required no discussion as it was found that a clerical error was responsible for the wrong impression. The last two were not considered worth while discussing.
The main office and the editorial] department wore not involved but} the staffs were locked out by the thers, The Board of Directors at a meeting yesterday afternoon came to the conclusion that there was no just reason for the strike, which was due in the main to a misrepresentation of facts, both in connexion with the number of employees who were to be dismissed and the proposed change in the hours of the night out for certain agitators who have disguised themselves as_ students} end who have been secretly deliv2ring public speeches and call meetings with a view to benefiting! themselves, Under present circumstances, says Marshal Sun, it) would be dangerous to permit mass meetings, demonstrations and street lectures.' All must, therefore, take steps to deal with the situation he} says.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.