The carpenters and joiners of Rushden came out on strike on Saturday last demanding 1d. an hour increase on their pay. Seen by a representative of the “Rushden Echo,” the men’s secretary vouchsafed the information that they asked for an increase of 1½d. per hour in February to bring their wages up to the rate paid at Wellingborough. This request the master builders refused but made an offer of a further ½d. per hour increase to take effect on May 1st. The men accepted this offer on condition that similar increases would be granted in August this year and in March, 1916, but the masters refused to accept this condition on the grounds of the uncertainty of what might happen to the trade between May 1st and August, and also of the general slackness of trade. The men then gave notice that unless 1d. per hour extra was granted by June 5th, they would strike work on June 12th, and this they did. The men consider their claims just in view of the increased cost of living.

The master met a deputation of the men at the Waverley Hotel on Tuesday afternoon, when the deputation was allowed to state a case. Subsequently the masters made an offer of ½d. per hour advance to commence as from Sept. 4th.

A meeting of the men was held at the Trade Club on Wednesday morning and after the above offer had been fully discussed the secretary was instructed to write to the Master Builders’ Association, making a final offer to accept ½d. per hour advance to commence Saturday July 10th. We understand that before the present strike the men involved were not organised, but all of them have now joined the Carpenters’ and Labourers’ Union.

Up to this afternoon no settlement had been arrived at.