PROTESTS FROM FEDERAL UNIONS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25446, 18 March 1948, Page 5

PROTESTS FROM FEDERAL UNIONS

The clash between police and strikers in Brisbane to-day may have widespread effects on Australian industry. and mass meetings of workers are being called in other States to make protests and consider possible action.

In Sydney a conference of, 10 Federal unions representing 200,000 workers demanded the resignation of the Queensland Premier (Mr E. M. Hanlon) and the dismissal of the Queensland Chief of Police and individual policemen responsible for “storm troop activities” against Queensland workers. The unions also asked the Australian Council of Trade Unions to launch a nation-wide campaign against “the anti-trade union and politically repressive legislation 3 ’ Of the Queensland and Victorian Governments. It was decided to call a meeting in Sydney on Monday night to organise support for the Queensland strike. To-day’s conference, which was representative of the main labour unions, also carried a resolution condemning “the hysterical campaign being conducted by the Liberal and Country parties for the suppression of the Communist Party and the militant trade unions.” In Melbourne the mter-State executive ot the Australasian Council of Trade Unions decided to send three delegates to see the Prime Minister (Mr Chifley) at Canberra on Friday, and then to see Mr Hanlon in an effort to' settle the Queensland dispute.

The inter-State executive also passed a resolution condemning “tha savage police attacks on unionists” a* “vicious and degrading, and a forcible prevention of the people’s right to freedom of organisation. Another resolution passed by the executive demanded the repeal of the 1948 amendments to the industrial laws, which were designed to protect workers wishing to return to work during a strike. The western New South Wales mines, which will be idle to-morrow a* a protest against ‘ ‘the bashing of demonstrators in Queensland/’ produce 10,000 tons of coal dally. The northern and southern New South Walesminer* are being asked to take similar action. Officials of 14 New South Wale* unions to-day signed a telegram ot protest to Mr Hanlon, and the Seamen’s Union has asked members of all ships in port In Australia to do likewise. The telegram from the New South Wales unions said that Mr Hanlon’a actions in the strike would strengthen the unions’ determination to rally all workers in support ot the Queensland strikers. The seamen threaten to continue their boycott of Queensland port* after tire strike is settled. Late to-day In Brisbane Mr Hanlon called the Chief of Police (Mr Carroll) to Parliament House. Mr Hanlon will make a statement to Parliament to-morrow.