A national- lock-out in the engineering industry 'is an ugly
possibility: If 'it happened it might mar the industrial prospect which has been 'steadily improving in all directibhs. The decision one way or the other Will not be taken till after we have gone to press, but we may summarize the facts. Nine hundred men in a London firm struck a few weeks ago on the ground that the firm- had engaged -four non-union men, though there was no obligation on- the part' of the firm to see that only- union labour was employed. The strikers then made two further demands ; first that the firm should promise to employ. only trade unionists in future, and secondly that it should increase wages by 20s. a week. The strike is obviously, irregular " . because the men had- entered into an agreement that before striking they would have recourse to the machinery of conciliation jointly set up by the- employers and the unions.
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