Broken Hill Miners Return To Work

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31768, 27 August 1968, Page 17

Broken Hill Miners Return To Work

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

BROKEN HILL, August 26.

Work resumed at the four silver, lead and zinc mines at Broken Hill, in Western New South Wales, at midnight tonight.

A resolution calling for a return to normal work was carried by a 10-1 majority at a mass meeting of more than 3000 mine workers who are claiming higher pay. About 3800 miners had held 27 stoppages lasting 24 hours each since last May, and these drastically cut production at all mines.

On Friday the president of the New South Wales Industrial Commission (Mr Justice Beattie) ordered the men to return to work pending a resumption of negotiations, a

move which averted a threat by the companies concerned to shut down the mines yesterday. The president of the Bar-

Tier Industrial Council (Mr W, S. O’Neil) told the mass meeting that the workers had two alternatives—they could either resume work and take up the campaign late, or they could go out on strike with no indication of how long it might last

Speakers against the executive resolution claimed that to return to normal work would be a sign of weakness, and that it would provide the companies with a weapon in future disputes. The stoppages have cost the mine workers more than sl.6m in lost wages. The companies’ loss is estimated at between slom and slsm in sales.