Abo:
Altempt at Further Trouble Shanghai" this week was faced with the possibility of another postal strike unless Nanking announced it would abide by the three demands made by the strikers on their resumption of work on October 6, following the four days' absence from work that was intended to tic up the entire mail delivery of the Settlement, and would have succeeded but for the loyal clerks wud the volunteer work of Boy Scouts in undertaking mail sorting and distribution.
One of the main reasons, if not the main one for the entire programme of labour unrest among the local postal employees, is. not at all the much discussed platform of 16 demands made by the strikers, bata desire on the part of the local Kuomintang to embar-ass the senior organization of that body in Nanking and to determine which of the two groups is the stronger politically.
'The Soochow Road headquarters heads profited by their last experience and plans were known to be under way that would solve much' of the problems of organization which had to be overcome before the volunteer organizations were working on a fully outlined programme.
Postal officials announced that, if the strike does come, alli mail will be delivered from house to house and there should be little interruption in the means of the organi to assist the authorities.
During the week, at a preliminary meeting-of the Postal Workers Una definite split made itself seen, some being Ip favour of a strike to-day, and others of accepting the terms offered by the Nanking Government, which are not the sam aus those arranged by the Shangh: District Kuomintang without consultation with the postal authorities or the Central Patty.
Ouiside pressure upon the Postal Workers Union was brought to boar to precipitate an immediate walkout. This pressure came chiefly fyem the General Labour Union, the Shanghai Kuomintang having agreed to abide by the decision of the Central Kuomintang in Nan-King, which decision has the support of the local Chinese authorities. There are now no differences between the local party and the central authorities, it is understood, The New Conditions The schedule of pay which will come into force so soon as it promulgated by the State Council, was circulated to foreign papers by the Kuo Min News Agency, though it has been known-to ths workers for some time, It is ax ranging. from Hk. Tls. 700.7 1280, I the ast willie redueed to $700 und $800; while that of Deputy Commissioners, ranging from Hk. Ths. 525 to 625, will be redyeed to $550 and $650.
2, All Department. Heads will receive a salary of $500, instead of Th. 460. Postal clerks will receive a minimum monthly salary of §35 on joining the vice, with increase to $40 later.
3. Aa increase of $5 will be added to the starting salary of all mail sorters, and the maximum increase of salary of sorters wi bbe $85. For instance, sorters of the Shanghai Post Office now receiving' a minimum salary of $21 or a maximum salary of $70 will, according to the new" sche-due, receive the minimum salary of $20 or a maximum salary of $11. They will also receive a monthly bonus of 97.50.
4. The starting wage of all niall carriers will be increased by $4, and the maximum increase will be $51. Mail carriers-of the Shanghai Post Office, for instance, now receiving a minimum wage of $19 or a maximum wage of $48.50, will, according to the new schedule, receive a minimum wage of $23 and the maximum wage of $74. A monthly bonus of $6 will also be given to the carriers.
5. Wages of all other postal employees will be. inereared,. $2. New employees of the Shanghai Post Office (other than sorters and a bonus of $6 monthly.
All" postal employees, in and below the rark of clerks, will receive a wage increase annually if their work is found to be satisfactory.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.