N.S W. TRANSPORT DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25088, 21 January 1947, Page 7

N.S W. TRANSPORT DISPUTE

Action On Strike Deferred

WORKERS DECIDR TO RETURN (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 10.45 p.m.) . SYDNEY. Jan. SO. By the overwhelming majority <rf 3634 votes to 719 the tram ana bus men to-day decided to return to wokk to-night After the stop-work meeting In the Leichhardt Stadium had reached this decision union officials said that services would be restored from the commencement of the allnight tram services at 11 p.m. It was decided to defer strike action until the Arbitration Court delivered judgment on the penalty rates and to abide by the leadership of the Australasian Council of Trade Unions in the matter of the 40-hour week.

A stormy meeting was marked by cries of “Commo” and “Take him off" which began when the assistantsecretary of the tramways section (Mr T. Junor) moved that the strike should be continued until the union’s claims were met. An amendment by Mr A. G. Bagnall, secretary of the bus section, that because of the obvious disapproval of the whole trade union movement the men should return to work and leave the framing of a uniform policy to the Australasian Council of Trade Unions was carried by a margin which astonished even those who had anticipated the defeat of the Left Wingers.

Sydney’s tramless and busless day passed off without many untoward incidents. Union pickets disrupted an emergency transport service organised between the Manly wharf and outlying districts by Mr E. D. Darby, a member of the Legislative Assembly. The police had to protect one truckdriver who carried on.

Traffic congestion along all the main thoroughfares was a traffic policeman’s nightmare as every type of transport was pressed into service. Joining the stream of walkers and hitch hikers were thousands of tram and bus men making their way to the Leichhardt Stadium for the meeting which finally decided on a return to work.

Sydney’s 1269 metropolitan taxidrivers rejoiced at the temporary lifting of the ban on multiple fares, and many were expected to earn up to £2O by the end of the day. The waterfront was paralysed, M 6000 waterside workers working 46 ships did not report for duty. Although many people gave up the search for transport and spent the day at the beaches, the absentee list was not unduly heavy.