ABORIGINAL WORKERS
Exploitation Alleged (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) DARWIN, Jan. 6. Aborigines were being exploited by new Australian contractors in the Northern Territory building industry, the secretary of the North Australia Workers’ Union (Mr P. J. Carroll) said today. On some jobs they were being paid only half the award wage, he said. This could lead to serious industrial trouble. The union had found that three aborigines were employed on one job as builder’s labourers at £lO a week. The union organiser who went to interview the contractor was ordered off the site. Mr Carroll said that under the awards’ employment regulations employers could pay aborigines less than award wages in every industry. One man employed by the Department, of Health at Darwin Hospital was paid only £6 a week. The Government was employing many others for a few pounds a week and keep.
“This situation cannot be tolerated,” Mr Carroll said. “Unless the Federal Government honours its promise to give equal rights to aborigines there will be serious trouble.”
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30642, 7 January 1965, Page 7
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169ABORIGINAL WORKERS Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30642, 7 January 1965, Page 7
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