One of the longest strikes ever recorded in Shanghai terminated yesterday when the strikers of the Shanghai Gas Company and the administration finally reached settlement, thus ending a dispute of four weeks. Almost 600 workers have returned to work at the Vu Ya Ching and Yangtszepoo Gas Plants, while the office clerks are expected to appear in the offices this morning.
The terms of the settlement were not revealed yesterday, while the fate of the 200 Russian and German Jewish refugee workmen could not be ascertained, although it was rumoured that the company would continue to keep them at the plants temporarily. It has also been said that a number of foreigners might be engaged permanently., Several foreign office assistants have already been engaged by the company.
The strike began four weeks ago when the strikers demanded higher rice allowance and increase in pay, as well as the reinstatement of a Chinese worker. who had been previously discharged following a brief strike in Mar. The administration of the company refused to recognize these demands, saying that an increase in pay and rice allowance had already been made in May, while the Chinese had been discharged for unsatisfactory conduct.
Several attempts to bring the dispute to an end were undertaken by the Industrial Section of the Shanghai Municipal Council and by Mr. Vu Ya Ching, veteran Chinese mem-her of the SMC. All mediation, however. failed and both the a ministration and the strikers were determined not to give in.
Later, when the gas supply became normal, through the aid of the foreign workers, the administration of the company issued counterdemands, resulting in a complete deadlock.
A compromise between the two parties was finally reached late last night through the mediation of the Special Branch of the Shanghai Municipal Police.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.