UK: FIRST DAY OF SEAMEN'S STRIKE.

Record ID: 342013

  • Title: UK: FIRST DAY OF SEAMEN'S STRIKE.
  • Date: 16th May 1966
  • Summary: CHOKED DOCKS FROM AIR; QUEEN ELIZABETH IN PORT; MEN IDLE ON CLYDESIDE; FISHING BOAT; UNION MEETING. Initials GM/V/RM/EEH Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 31st May 1966 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SOUTHAMPTON AND ELSEWHERE, UK
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVAC7LOQ3FF9VKEUWAUK8A5XEVCF
  • Story Text: THE FIRST 24 HOURS OF THE BRITISH MERCHANT SEAMEN'S STRIKE ENDED AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT (MONDAY). MORE THAN 300 SHIPS LAY IDLE AROUND THE BRITISH COAST.

    THE SEAMEN ARE DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE REDUCTION FROM A 56-HOUR TO A 40-HOUR WORKING WEEK WITH NO CUT IN THEIR 14 STERLING BASIC WAGE.

    AN EARLY STRIKE VICTIM WAS THE CUNARD LINER QUEEN ELIZABETH (83,673 TONS), WORLD'S LARGEST PASSENGER LINER, WHICH REACHED SOUTHAMPTON TONIGHT. FIRST BIG SHIP TO BE AFFECTED AT THE PORT WAS THE SOUTH AFRICAN LINER SA VALL (32,697 TONS) ALTHOUGH IT WAS REPORTED THAT ONLY ABOUT ONE CREWMAN IN EIGHT HAD WALKED OFF THE SHIP, THE OTHERS BEING ON CONTINUOUS ARTICLES.

    IN SCOTLAND, WHERE A SEAMEN'S UNION LEADER HAS SAID IT IS THE UNION'S OBJECTIVE TO BLOCK THE RIVER CLYDE WITH SHIPS, SUPPLY VESSELS PLYING BETWEEN THE MAINLAND AND THE REMOTE HEBRIDES ISLANDS LAY IDLE.

    IN LIVERPOOL, A UNION MEETING WAS ATTENDED BY 500 SEAMEN FROM SHIPS ON THE MERSEY. A UNION OFFICIAL ASKED THE MEETING TO OBSERVE ONE MINUTE'S SILENCE IN MEMORY OF THE 33,000 SEAMEN WHO HAD LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR. BY THE END OF THE DAY, MORE THAN 40 SHIPS LAY IDLE IN LIVERPOOL. ANOTHER 27 ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE THERE BEFORE FRIDAY, MANY OF THEM CARRYING FOOD.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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