On Monday morning the strike on the Midland Railways of drivers and stokers against the introduction of new regulations providing for payment by journey instead of stated weekly wages still continued, and there appeared prospect of a conciliatory settlement. The passenger traffic of the company seemed to be working well as far as the main lines were concerned, and there was a buoyant and confident tone at headquarters in reference to the progress being made in overtaking the goods traffic.
This did not promise well for the men on strike, who were evidently regarded the company practically defeated. On the other hand, the despatches received from several centres indicated that the struggle with the men was not kept up without much difficulty, cost, and inconvenience.
From Nottingham news came that men drafted into the company’s snrvice from other lines were returning.
At Sheffield, men from the North-Eastern Railway had to be lodged, fed, and protected in the engine sheds. Servants of other companies passed resolutions in support of their Midland comrades, and thus strongly discouraged any outside assistance.
Thus, although Derby tbere appeared to prevail feeling that the company were getting the upper band, rhere was sufficient reason on both sides for wishing the contest at an end. A speedy settlement was obviously desirable in the interests of many others besides the parties to the dispute.
A Wolverhampton correspondent tells how the pig-iron makers of that district are mainly dependent for their supplies of coke from the Derbyshire cove ovans coming to them over the Midland line. In consequence the strike there was interruption of supplies which threatened to throw many persons in the iron trade temporarily out of employment.
This is but one of the serious inconveniences that might result from a prolongation of this painful dispute.
BNA copywrite – Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 09 November 1895
