Limerick, Thursday. The dire consequences of the ongoing railway strike in Limerick are becoming increasingly evident, with several city firms issuing notices of impending dismissals for a significant number of employees by the end of the week. The situation has reached a deplorable state due to the halt in goods traffic.
Today saw only two trains bound for Ennis, with no arrivals reported. Another train operated from Limerick to Limerick Junction, and a fourth from Ballybrophy connected with the Cork-to-Dublin mail train and steamers from the North Wall and Kingstown carrying English mails. The railway station remained under police guard and faced picketing by striking workers. Both sides seem reluctant to seek a resolution, and the directors have notified the employees in the locomotive department that the works will be closed down on the 27th inst. Due to the strike. Today, engines were operated by officials apart from the regular drivers.
In an attempt to address misconceptions surrounding the strike, a public meeting was held in the Town Hall tonight, facilitated by Mayor Alderman MacNeice. The Council Chamber was filled with a remarkably intelligent assembly of employees. Mr Joseph Glynn, Secretary of the Limerick Branch of the Amalgamated Railway Society, clarified that the strike was not solely about the timber dispute but stemmed from longstanding grievances. He highlighted issues such as engine drivers being forced to work 12 to 14 hours daily, boys employed for men’s work at meagre wages, and the need for a readjustment of working hours. Mr Glynn emphasized that the strike was regrettable, but a result of the failure to address these grievances. The sentiments expressed underscored the urgency for intervention to bring about a resolution.
As uncertainty continues to shroud the duration of the strike, local businesses are compelled to take distressing measures, contemplating workforce reductions that will undoubtedly exacerbate the economic challenges facing Limerick. The call for a settlement resonates, and the consequences of prolonged disruption are keenly felt across various sectors in the city.
Dublin Daily Express – Friday 22 September 1911
