FIVE-DAY WEEK

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29803, 21 April 1962, Page 5

FIVE-DAY WEEK

Bank Officers’ Strike Threat

’ N Z.P A -Reuter—Copyright ) MELBOURNE. April 19

Victorian bank officers will strike if they do not receive an assurance from the State Government that it will introduce legislation for a fiveday banking week during the current session of Parliament.

Six thousand bank officers made this decision at a meeting after marching through the city to Parliament House in one of the greatest demonstrations by ‘‘white-collar” workers seen in Melbourne A senior official of the Australian Bank Officers’ Association said later the direct action might take the form of a complete stoppage, or might be limited to stoppages on one or two days a week, including Saturday mornings. “We will strike if we do not get what we want make no mistake about that.” he said.

The current session of the State Parliament is due to end on May 3. The Legislative Council is due to sit until then but. on present plans, the Legislative Assembly may end its sittings tonight.

The Secretary of the Australian Bank Officers' Association (Mr R. D. Williams) said that bank officers would try to see the Premier (Mr Bolte) again today. Victoria is the only State with banks open on Saturdays.