On Thursday, August 14th, a strike of the porters in
Covent Garden Market was unexpectedly declared. For some time the men had been demanding a guaranteed minimum wage of £4 5s. a week all the year round, as well as overtime rates for work after 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and a minimum of 10s. for any casual work. The porters joined the Transport and General Workers' Union last March, and it was this Union which conducted the discussions with the employers. Apparently the men struck without any authority from their Union, but no sooner had the strike been declared than the Union took responsibility for it. It is said that the porters can earn as much as £8 and £9 a week in the summer, and that the high cost of porterage has caused constant com- plaints by both wholesalers and retailers. No doubt, however, there is- a considerable difference between the winter and summer wages, and the employers, recognizing this, offered a minimum standing wage of not less than £3 10s. a week, to be increased by 10s. from June 1st to September 30th. The employers have refused the invitation of the Ministry of. Labour to a conference, but when we go to press on Thursday there are hopes that something may come of Mr. Bevin's offer on behalf of-the men to meet the employers.
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