NEW WATERFRONT DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24882, 23 May 1946, Page 5

NEW WATERFRONT DISPUTE

DEMAND BY SYDNEY WORKERS NO LABOUR FOR THREE SHIPS (Rec. 11.30 P.m.) SYDNEY, May 22. Nearly 250 watersiders were involved in a new dispute on the Sydney waterfront to-day which left three overseas ships without labour. The men demanded payment for an 8 o’clock start although it was 9 o’clock when they were picked up. Under the rules of the Stevedoring Industry Commission this could not be granted by the officials. The issue as to whether or not the men are entitled to payment of this nature is one of the points brought up by the Waterside Workers’ Federation for discussion by the Commission tomorrow. After more than an hour’s argument the men walked away and the ships remained idle. A meeting of the Stevedoring Industry Commission will be held to-morrow to consider a demand by the Waterside Workers’ Federation for shorter working hours from .June 1. The union has asked for two shifts concluding at 11 p.m. instead of two which at present provide for a working day of 23 hours. Under the present system the watersiders receive time and a half between 5 p.m. and midnight and double time between midnight and 7 a.m. The union insists that the day should start from 9 a.m. when the men are accepted 'for work later in the day, and demands time and a half from 5 p.m. The possibility of a third shift from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. in emergencies will be considered. Last night the Sydney waterfront was short of 780 men for night labour.