Limerick, Wednesday. The ongoing strike in Limerick is inflicting significant losses across various sectors, intensifying the economic impact on the city. One bacon-curing establishment has already laid off fifty workers due to a lack of supplies, and another fifty are slated to be dismissed by the end of the week unless goods traffic resumes. The strike has plunged business activities into a state of stagnation, leading to a surge in the prices of essential commodities. The bacon, butter, and egg trades are particularly affected.

A prominent bacon firm executive highlighted the grim situation, stating that by the week’s end, more employees would face lay-offs due to the impossibility of fulfilling orders. Bacon stocks are piling up, and the potential refusal of pigs further exacerbates the crisis. While efforts are underway to dispatch a significant quantity via a steamer bound for Liverpool and Glasgow on Friday, the overall outlook remains uncertain.

Representatives of other bacon firms echoed similar concerns, and the Irish Co-Operative Agency noted a virtual standstill in their butter trade, except for cross-channel orders handled by their Belfast branch. Parcel-post businesses have been seriously impacted, and grain importers, such as the prominent firm Messrs. Hannan & Co., find themselves constrained. If the strike persists, these firms are contemplating serious actions, potentially leading to adverse consequences for their employees.

Messrs. Hannan & Co. have organized a limited service within a radius of twenty or more miles from the city. Additionally, several auctioneers’ sales scheduled for yesterday had to be postponed due to the railway crisis. The city is grappling with the multifaceted challenges arising from the strike, affecting livelihoods, commerce, and daily operations across various industries. The uncertain duration of the strike adds to the complexity of finding viable solutions to the economic downturn in Limerick.

Irish Independent – Thursday 21 September 1911