GASWORKS TAKEN OVER

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25061, 18 December 1946, Page 7

GASWORKS TAKEN OVER

Strike Development In Sydney

MEN RESUME AS VOLUNTEERS

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11.55 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 17. No finality was reached at the compulsory conference of parties to the gas workers’ dispute, which was summoned by Mr Justice Foster, of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court. The conference sat in Melbourne until late last night before being adjourned until to-day. Surprising developments occurred this afternoon in the gas workers* strike in Sydney. Shortly after noon the State president of the Gas Employees’ Union (Mr Keith Smith) announced that members o'f the union were taking over the Mortlake gasworks to maintain the supply of gas to the public. Mr Smith said that the men were taking over as volunteers without payment to relieve the anxiety of householders who were not receiving an adequate supply of gas from white collar workers. This followed heated scenes this morning, when white collar workers attempting to man the works were met by 200 strikers. The police were called in this afternoon and the men moved into the works. Shortly afterwards the president’s statement was retracted and one by Mr J. C. West, the State secretary and Federal president, was substituted. Mr West announced that the striding gas workers had taken over the Mortlake gasworks from the staff wcykers and were producing gas at the rate maintained by the displaced volunteers. It was intended to do this until word was received from the Federal executive to decrease, maintain or increase supplies. ,f I know now that the Federal executive will direct that gas production in Sydney will cease probably by tonight,” he continued. “That means that present supplies in reserve will probably last ’3O to 50 hours and that Sydney will be without gas by Thursday. My men will be completely in charge of the plant within a few hours and the white collar workers will not be on the job.” The Central committee of the unions involved in the strike in Sydney is organising picketing and a continuation of the sit-in strike on the roster system. The eight unions now involved include the electricians’, boilermakers’, engineers’, sheet metal workers’, painters’, building workers’ and gas workers.’ 7 ‘ Moves for an extension are in the air, as the Newcastle and country gas employees are watching developments. A leading industrialist estimates that 50.000 New South Wales workers will lose their jobs if the strike continues. / Meanwhile in Melbourne the emergency committee of the Australasian Council of Trade Unions and IJ. unions decided to ban supplies of materials of any nature to gasworks affected by the dispute. A sub-com-mittee has been appointed to see that this decision is carried out. Biscuit makers and pastrycooks have been heavily hit by the strike, and the authorities in Sydney say there is now little prospect of more Christmas cakes and plum puddings being made. The bread situation yesterday was not serious, but bakers are urging that permission should be givfen to gas bakeries to bake bread. Cafes are improvising with kerosene and oil stoves, but small goods retailers claim that nearly all the cooking of rabbits and poultry has ceased. Already 1500 members of the Pastrycooks’ and Biscuit Makers’ Union have been stood down. The dispute began on September 20, when the Arbitration Court disallowed claims for increased pay for shift workers, ruling that the evidence was not sufficient to establish that conditions had changed. A stop-work meeting in Sydney on November 3 decided to press claims and on November 30 a ban was placed by the union on week-end work and overtime. A general gas strike was declared on December 12.