THREAT OF GENERAL STRIKE IN N.S.W.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 236, 5 October 1945, Page 5

THREAT OF GENERAL STRIKE IN N.S.W.

BUNNERONG DISPUTE

Union Leaders Appeal To Federal Government

N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 1.30 p.m. SYDNEY, this day. Union leaders have made a lastminute attempt to avert a widespread extension of the Bunnerong electric power-house dispute, which is in its, 32nd day, by appealing direct to the Sydney County Council over the head of its general manager, Mr. D. J. Nolan. While the council directs the policy, Mr. Nolan at present controls staff matters, thus the handling of the dispute is entirely in his hands. Union leaders have asked the council itself to negotiate a settlement of the strike. Call For Ex-Servicemen To-day Mr. Nolan, fulfilling his threat, advertised for competent exservicemen to replace Bunnerong's , 600 strikers. If they are engaged, the union officials have told the council, every effort will be made to bring about a general strike throughout the State. The State Government's attitude is that it cannot take over the Bunnerong power-station, as has been suggested, because it would still be bound by the national security regulations requiring the strikers to return to work. The Federal Government has informed the union leaders that it cannot take any specific action with regard to one electricity undertaking in one city, but could only take over Bunnerong by nationalising the electricity supply throughout the Commonwealth and it was not prepared to solve the Bunnerong dispute in that way. For these reasons the union leaders say they now prefer to precipitate a general cessation of industry and a complete blackout of electricity supplies in Sydney, believing that the Federal and State Governments will then be compelled to take immediate action. "Verge of Upheaval" The acting-secretary of the New South Wales Labour Council, Mr. F. Kelly, M.L.C., said: "If the county council introduces free labour at Bunnerong, it will be pulling on a fight with the trade union movement throughout Australia." (The Sydney County Council had earlier announced its intention of engaging returned servicemen.) "This looks like a showdown, said another prominent union official. "We are on the verge of one of the greatest industrial upheavals Australia has ever known." . State union leaders said that if no settlement was forthcoming and free labour entered the power-house, union leaders would take steps to cut off all coal supplies to Bunnerong. Miners and transport workers would be asked to co-operate. Every union involved, would present a united front to the threat of free labour." , , ■ . , „ . Meanwhile, with coal stocks at their lowest ebb for five years, the Coal Commissioner, Mr. N. Mighell, has applied a 15 per cent cut on supplies to manufacturers from next Monday. Twenty mines are idle in New South Wales to-day. Six thousand miners are affected, ana the coal loss is nearly 20,000 tons, the greatest for months. . ' Almost 17,000 persons are idle to : day, indicating the seriousness of the general "industrial discontent

BECOMING CHAOTIC AUSTRALIAN COAL INDUSTRY Rec. -1 30 p.m. SYDNEY, this day. Speaking at the coal inquiry, the chairman, Mr. Justice Davidson, said: "I have abandoned all hope of trying to get any peace in the industry under the present conditions. Something must be done. If this sort, of thing persists there will be a crash somewhere." Judge ' Davidson's remarks , fol-1 lowed statements by owners and upion leaders that the position was becoming chaotic:.

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