• ences have become so small that there is good
hope of an agreement. On Thursday, May 19th, two alternative proposals were made by the employers. The first los an offer of an advance of wages in July of 2s. 6d. a 14'61 to all workers, provided that the unions consented to reduction of the overtime and night shift rates. This was a renewal of an offer which was rejected by the unions a year ago. The second offer was an unecor ditional advance of 2s. a week, to begin on August 1st to plain time workers only, wages to remain undisturbed for a year afterwards. The unions refused both offers, but were willing to recommend an unconditional advance of 2s. 6d. to both piece workers and time workers. There is no longer, therefore, any difference between the two sides as to the amount of the advance ; the only point is whether there shall be conditions. It is to be noted that workers who are paid by results are earning considerably higher wages than are earned by the time-workerS and they also work shorter hours. Surely 'such a lesson will not be ignored. MeanWhile the engineering trade unions &sent, and get, a good deal of sympathy, for it is notorious that their skilled work has been very much underpaid as compared with that in the unskilled; sheltered industries.
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