The Leeds strike, which lasted for more than a month,
has ended in unconditional surrender on the part of the workmen, On December 10th the Corporation workmen struck for an all-round increase of two shillings a week. Over three thousand men employed in the sanitary, sewage, water, gas, electricity, and parks departments came out, and were shortly after joined by about a thousand tramwaymen. Though a great deal of inconvenience was caused, the citizens of Leeds and the undergraduates of Universities responded to the call for volunteers, and by maintaining the essential services secured the ultimate victory of the Corporation. The terms offered and accepted, while granting none of the demands of the strikers, are framed in no vindictive spirit, for, while they contain no promise of complete reinstatement and guarantee the permanent retention of many men taken on during the strike, it is expressly stated that no man will be prejudiced in his claim to resume work or be victimized or penalized because of his taking part in the dispute, and, further, that special claims for improved pay will be fairly considered.
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