Attempt to Paralyze Water Supply by Sudden Strike at Waterworks: Service Being Maintained at Normal Foreshadowing what is believed, to ba an attempt to paralyze all general utility companies in Shanghai, in accordance with the pro gramme of Communist activities outlined for August 1, a strike was declared on the night of July 25 in the Shanghai Waterworks Co.'s Yangtszepoo plant, which is the principal filtering and pumping station of the company. Four: hundred: employees; failed to report for work when the night' shift was due to take over. The company, prepared for some such eventuality, introduced Russian workmen immediately, and the water supply was maintained at normal. My, C.D, Pearson, managing director of company, stated that every effort will he made to keep up the supply as usual The Company's Attitude In a statement to one representa. tive Mr. C.D, 'Pearson said that the origin' of the strike yas that some of the men had formed a union for which they claimed recognition. The Company' attitude, as stated to the men, wa that while. they were prepared recognize a union, it could be only such a onion as consisted solely of employees of the Waterworks. Some of the men thereupon decided on making trouble, as n consequence fof which the Company was obliged to discharge three of the ringlead-erg, Tt should be: pointed out that prior to this occurring. a general Inevense had. been granted to the en, but notwithstanding this, the men preferred to go, on making trouble.
The immediate effect of this was that the itting shop was closed and the day-shift intimidated. the night-shift.fxom coming in. the meantime the Company is carrying on with Russian and other for-ign assistance and it is anticipated that the usual supply of water wil bbe maintained. The company does not anticipate any serious dislocation of its services, the Fitters Warned The trouble came to a head when the fitters were warned that unless they did their: work properly they would be Jocked "out. The agitation had originated among them. Five men were chiefly responsible, and, of these five, one had run away when it reemed likely that the company. would take some sort of action against him, another had been dismissed on a retiring gratuity by the wnagement, and the other three, who were employed by the day, had deen notified that their servic would not be required unfit later the autumn, since during the summé very little is done to the compan; machinery in the way of renovation.
The fitters, numbering about 100 demanded the reinstatement of the dismissed men, but the management refused, Hence when the situation became critical the management decided to lock the fitters out until ina public utility company of the importance: of the waterworks.
The Usual Tntimidation immediately declared a strip ordinary night shift men appeared to be unwilling to goon strike, but the malcontents called at their houses and, by threats, forced them to stay at home, One man telephoned to the company to say that he was willing to come to work: but that agitators had. threatened to beat his wife and children if he. did s0.., Pickets were, stationed out side the gates of the plant and near the company's houses so. thad loyal workers could not approach their tasks.
'The day-shift workers who were to have been relieved showed excellent spirit, many' of them st ing to their posts until the Russian reliefs had been organized, despite tWe fact that it meant a few hours more at their machines.
The Men's Extra Demands The demands made previously by the employees are regarded by the management as the result of work! by extremists. The management has repeatedly promised the workers that their scale of pay would rise in proportion to the cost of living, and this has been "done. Only the same day the directors! assed a recommendation that pay should be increased all round from 10 per cent. to five per cent,, aceording to the amount of money drawn, The demands made were briefly that pay should be greatly increased, that Sundays should be regarded as holidays and double pay should be given, and that there should be a substantial retirement gratuity for} all workers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.