The strike of the casual labourers employed at the western depot in Carter Road of the Public Works Department yesterday came like a bolt from the blue. Most of the strikers have been engaged in road repairs. An official of the department disclosed yesterday that the walk-out was entirely unexpected, that he was at a loss to understand why the men should strike, adding that any differences which the department might have had with the men were settled several months ago when the men struck. The terms of settlement conduced to a permanent understanding between the workers and their employers.
The P.WD. strikers did not walk out en masse. A number of the men absented from work in the morning. Others who had reported for work gradually drifted away during the morning. As in the other cases no demands have been presented to the employers.
"There is all sorts of intimidation going on among the men themselves" the official said adding, "We don't know what has started. No demands have been presented and there is no possible reason why the men should fe on strike. Only a few months ago they were out and everything was settled nicely afterwards. The last time they wanted more wages owing to increase in the price of rice. They get what they wanted and I don't see why they should suddenly strike again."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.