LABOUR MATTERS

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16961, 9 October 1920, Page 9

LABOUR MATTERS

STRIKE IN PORTUGAL. (Br Cnb'o—Press Association—Copyright-} (Australian nnd X.Z. Cablo Associction.) MADRID, October <3. A general strike, apparently of a ■revolutionary character, has broken out throughout Portugal. The post and telegraph and telephone employees, also the naval reservists, railwaymen and dockers have erased work. (Received October Bth, S p.m.) .I,o* IX>N } Octooer Tho Portuguese Legation states the strike reports :'.ro exaggerated. There is only a'pr.rtial railway strike. Many trains were running, and tlhero have been no disturbances. BASIC WAGE INCREASED. SYDNEY, October 8. The Board of Trade is making a declaration 'to-day, increasing the. basic | wage by Ss, the new amount being £4 55." The award will apply to all cin- j ploveos under the State awards in re-j ceipt of less than £535 per annum. Tho; estimated increaso will involve tho Go-1 vernrnont- in an extra expenditure of l £1.000.000, and private employers in I £5,000,C00. (Received October Bth, 10.30 p.m.) Tho Board of Trade's decision, increasing tho basic wage by Ss weekly, has been issued. It does not apply to ruml industries and certain country districts covered by separate declara- j tions. An accompanying statement shows that prices have increased by 18 per cent-., r.nd the purchasing power of money lias decreased by 15 per cent, since the previous declaration was made. Tho statement adds: It is possiblo tlhat the pinnacle of high prices has been! reached, and a dec-lino will have started before tho next declaration is due. When this occurs, and a proposal is mado to reduce wages, the system will bo nut to a real test. Unionists express themselves as disappointed. They anticipated a rise to at least £4 10a. Some claim that £5 would bo only a fair thing to moot tho increased cost of living. TRANSPORT WORKERS' MOVE. SYDNEY, October 8. Tho Transport Workers' Federation has decided that, from tho beginning 'of nest month, no members of any affiliated union, will bo allowed to work overseas Japanese vessels engaged in carrying cargo from ono State to another. Tho alleged ground of the decision is that their cheaper freights secure for the Japanese more trade, and decrease tho work available for Australian seamen. BRITISH MINERS' DISPUTE. (Received October Btih, 8 p.m.) LONDON, October 7. It is understood that -after various discussions, the Triple Alliance made it clear that the miners must pursue a reasonable attitude of give-and-take. Tlio miners could not ask large bodies of workmen to strike when tho difference between the two sides was only Is per day. Although the executives of many leading coal districts have declared against t)he owners' terms, the -Government does not attach any importance to them, believing that, though the hotheads have captured the , machine, the vote of tho average miner ] will bo cast for peace. Mr R. Smillio has issued a-strong appeal, declaring that it would bo ini the best interests of tho minors to accept the proposals a3 a temporary measure, utilising the next three montlhs to secure a satisfactory agreement. Also it would give an opportunity to prove that tho declining output was mainly duo to the owners ratner than , the miners.