RAILWAY STRIKE IN QUEENSLAND

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25450, 23 March 1948, Page 5

RAILWAY STRIKE IN QUEENSLAND

WORKERS’ FAMILIES SUFFER

“ APPALLING MISERY IN MANY HOMES” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

BRISBANE, March 22. Evidence from all over Queensland suggests that the railway strikers are nearing the end of their financial resources. The strike, which originally was expected to end in a fortnight, has now dragged on for 48 days, and the families of 20,000 railwaymen are without proper food. Strike pay, which started at £2 to £1 10s weekly, has now been reduced to £l. According to social workers, appalling misery exists in many homes and thousands of children are living on nothing more than bread and jam. Essential baby foods for infante upto four months old are unknown in most of the strikers' homes. The strikers are not eligible for Government relief, and they have lost £520,Q00 in wages since the strike started. Moderate unionists say that a secret ballot would be 90 per cent, in favour of an immediate return to work. In an effort to mediate in the’ strike, leaders of the Australasian Council of Trade Unions arrived in Brisbane last night, and they will see the Premier (Mr E. M. Hanlon) and the Disputes Committee. Leaders of the Communist-con-trolled Miners’ Federation are also making a hasty visit to Queensland. Fear of a- general coal strike, re-’ suiting in the ■ almost immediate Immobilisation of industry and unemployment for 750,000 workers, is growing.