VICTORIAN STRIKES COLLAPSE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25394, 17 January 1948, Page 7

VICTORIAN STRIKES COLLAPSE

Unions Resisted By Premier (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright).

(Rec. 11 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Jan. 16. The settlement of the transport upheaval which threatened to paralyse Melbourne is undoubtedly a Govern* ment victory. The Premier (Mr T. T. Hollway) is content to refer to the settlement as “a triumph for good Australian common sense.” He added that the Communists had brought the trade union movement to the verge of destruction, and that it had been saved only by the more moderate elements of the Trades Hall Council. The leader of the Labour Party (Mr J. Cain) exerted every effort to end the strike without invoking the new Emergency Powers Bill. Behind the settlement was the threat of a general upheaval, which Mr Hollway admitted he wishes to avoid. The State executive of the Tramways Employees’ Association, which met to-day, recorded a strong protest against “the punitive legislation passed by the State last night.” Urged by the recommendation of their executive, they will work a six-day roster until April 1, and will get a five-day 40-hour week then or get 15s 4d and overtime for meal breaks of more than one hour under the interim six-day roster.

The strike, which began 13 days ago, has cost £162,500 loss of revenue and £58.500 loss of wages. After a conference at 2 p.m. to-day, power-houSe employees went back tb work and stationmasters called men from their homes, with the result that suburban trains are running to-day. Seamen and watersiders decided to end their strikes at midnight to-night. After a late session of the Victorian Parliament, followed by conferences which lasted all night. Trades Hall support of the Victorian tramway strike collapsed this morning. Stead-

fastly refusing to compromise, the Liberal Premier (Mr T. T. Hollway) forced through the Legislative Assembly the bill empowering the Government to declare a state of emergency and providing for a fine of £lOOO for union leaders who flout its provisions. The bill, which was introduced in the face of an ultimatum from railway workers and seamen, went through the House in record time. Mr Hollway accelerated its progress to meet the union threats.

Long conferences with the Trades Hall followed. The council accepted an assurance from Mr Hollway that provided normal transport was restored by Monday, he would not proclaim the act without consulting the council. Railway union officials promised to do all they could to get their members back to work, though the 24 hours stoppage by employees of the Newport railway power house had begun at midnight. This has been done and a complete stoppage of all Melbourne suburban electric (rains has been averted.

After a second conference the Trades Hall executive decided to call off the tram strike if the Government agreed not to proclaim .the bill. Reporting to the Trades Hall council on the conference with Mr Hollway, the council secretary (Mr J. V. Stout) said: “Mr Hollway said that the decision of the railway power house men to cease at midnight had caused the Government to rush the bill through. He said that if the strikers returned to work the bill would not be proclaimed; but would be put in cool storage so that it could be used at any time. When asked to withdraw the bill he told us calmly and coolly that Cabinet refused to do this.”