REVOLT AGAINST CONTROLS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25083, 15 January 1947, Page 7

REVOLT AGAINST CONTROLS

INDUSTRIAL UNREST IN AUSTRALIA

“BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES” (Special Correspondent N.Z J* A.)

(Rec. 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 14. The barrage of strikes and threats of direct action under which Australian industry is disappearing in the first weeks of the New Year suggests that an assault by the unions against Government - imposed controls on wages, prices, and hours is in full swing. A remarkable feature is the revolt by employers against controls, which in the closure of the butchers’ shops in Sydney and Newcastle takes on the guise of the bitterest of political strikes.

When Labour first organised in order to secure for itself betterment of wages and conditions, the strike weapon was recognised as a dangerous two-edged sword to be used sparingly against employers. But the Australian Governments, both State and Federal, have moved into industry by imposing a variety of controls, the praiseworthy aim of which is to keep down the cost of living. It is the Government which fixes maximum wages, hours, and prices. Thus the Government—already, because of its ownership of public utilities, the greatest employer in the Commonwealth—becomes the chief target for direct action on the part of employers and employees alike. Of eight disputes, three of which are in the strike stage, every one is directed in some way at the Government. The gas employees in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide are striking for double time for Sunday work, time and a half for Saturday work, additional annual leave for shift workers, and a minimum wage of £6 18s a week. According to the Governmentimposed controls, these wages and hours cannot be granted by the employers. The men refuse to accept an assurance that the Arbitration Court Will deal with the matters in dispute. As Mr Justice Drake Brockman refuses to consider matters in arbitration while the men remain on strike, most of Sydney is without gas, and three cities which together hold nearly half Australia’s population are existing on a meagre ana heavily restricted supply.

Cumbrous Union Machinery The union machinery is so cumbrous and opinion is so divided, even in the Federal Council of the Gas Employees’ Union, that a decision in favour of a settlement to-day could not be implemented until approved by mass meetings of strikers in the three States. This could mean no gas for another week.

Employers entered the assault on Government controls when on January 6 the Sydney and Newcastle butchers closed as a protest against uncontrolled live stock prices and alleged inefficient policing of wholesale meat prices. The Government has taken no action, though Sydney and Newcastle have been without meat for eight days.The Sydney tram and bus men will hold another one-day strike on Monday if they are not granted a five-day, 40-hoyr week, double time for Sundays, and time and a half for Saturdays. These claims cannot be met under the law. Thp watersiders are considering direct action in an attempt to win holidays with pay, in spite of the fact that their claim was recently turned down by the Arbitration Court. Sydney taxi-drivers are in an active boycott against the Government decision to Dan multiple fares. Postal workers are demanding substantial increases in pay and tax exemption on all salaries under £3OO a year. Dockyard employers have locked out 8000 men because 28 crane drivers walked out after their illegal request for an increase of £1 weekly had been refused.

In every case either the Federal or the State Government has power to break the hold-up, but in no case has this even been attempted. On previous showings, it is unlikely that any Government will take the drastic steps of disciplining irresponsibles and ’’rabble rousers.”