"collision Ahead on Incomes Policy. Union Leader's Hull, Warning."

The government was stearing a collision course with its incomes policy and sooner or later "the balloon will go up" warned a Hull trade union leader yesterday. "Strikes will come, and when they do they will undermine this government for a very long time", declared Mr. David Shenton, regional secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union. He was speaking at a teach-in at the Royal Station Hotel, organised by the \iorkers' Educational Association, About 50 people attended the afternoon and evening conference, which dealt with the country's economic crisis and the price and incomes policy. Other members of the panel were Mr. James Johnson, M.P., Labour member for West Hull; Mr. Norman Turner, prospective Liberal candidate for East Hull, and Mr. Tony Topham, a lecturer at Hull University. Mr. Shenton said that despite the freeze, employers would pay wage increases if it suited their wishes, and despite Government powers. "There is no point in making a law which cannot be observed, and the Government is wasting its time trying legal powers," said Mr. Shenton. It was the lower paid worker who was being hit by the freeze which would permanently affect his wages. But in the case of shareholders the freeze was only a hold-up period and the shareholder would get his money back. "While this sort of thing is going on, you will never get the working man to support the Government," said Mr, Shenton. "Many of the unions who initially supported the Government are now having second thoughts. I think the Government are extremely lucky in getting so far ;" - There were clear warning signs and he was certain that if things continued as they were, the T.U.C. conference would vote against the Government's policy. "My advice to the government is to call this whole thing off before it is too late. The rank-and-file are sick and tired of the press- = The trade union rovement will not be a whipping boy for any Government, Note: The T.& G.W.U. in Hull, and in eight major fishing ports, will be officially in dispute with the trawler owners from June 3rd., the date on which their notice to terminate the old compulsory arbitration clause in their agreement, expires. The owners, having turned down a claim for a 48 hour week and Sunday overtime last month, last week rejected a claim (based on the present merchant seamen's standsrds) for 48 days annual leave, Both claims were rejected as incompatible with the Government’ prices and ‘incomes policy. Mr, Jack Ashwell, fishing officer for the union in Hull, said to the press that as from June 2nd. "We shall feel free to take any. | action considered necessary. It could well mean a stoppage. If there is going to. be a stoppage after June 2nd it will be an official one and will involve the eight major fishing ports. There is deadlock over this issue for we shall not approach the employers again."