SUSPENSION OF WATERSIDERS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27603, 9 March 1955, Page 13

SUSPENSION OF WATERSIDERS

Refused To Stop . Work

(Rec. 10 p.m.) MELBOURNE, March 8. Thirty-eight Melbourne waterside workers who refused to stop work yesterday were disciplined today for having interrupted stevedoring operations. The men were involved in a dispute on the inter-State freighter, River Mitta, at Victoria dock. They were unloading 160 tons of bagged sugar. The Melbourne Stevedoring Company’s supervisor Ordered them to unload slings of 14 bags at a time. The men refused, and went on unloading 12 at a time. The employer called a board of reference, which ruled that 14 bags was a fair sling load with six men working below in the hold. The men, acting on instructions from union officials, refused to abide by the ruling and went on unloading 12 bags to the sling. The supervisor told the men they were dismissed. They worked on. He told them they would be working without pay. They went on to the end of the shift.

Another gang came on for the “twilight” shift, and they too worked—l2 bags to the sling—without pay for two hours, until all the sugar was unloaded.

At a Stevedoring Industry Board disciplinary inquiry held today by the Waterside Labour Bureau Superintendent (Mr L. Pemberton) the two gangs were suspended for two normal working days.