STRIKERS RIOT

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33253, 16 June 1973, Page 17

STRIKERS RIOT

Wild scene in Aust. (N.ZP.A.-Reuter—Copyright) MELBOURNE, June 13. • Militant trade unionists, objecting to strike-settlement terms, rioted at the Ford; Motor Company’s factory at; Broadmeadows, outside Mel-; bourne, today, causing dam-i age estimated at sAust 10,000. I The demonstrators hurled stones, fruit, and vegetables; •at factory buildings, smash- ; ling scores of windows. They; ’also knocked down a brick wall and some fencing. The rioting began after the first shift—about 1000 of I the works’ 4500 employees—; reported for work after their; union’s acceptance of a com-1 pany pay offer to end a three- 1 week strike: a 5 per cent increase in above-award payments. About 450 militant pickets gathered outside the factory, demanding that the 1000 workers walk out again. One group of pickets turned a fire-hose through a window, and played a stream of water on workers inside, and others shattered windows; and hurled carrots and cab-; bages into the building. About 40 policemen, in-1 eluding three on horseback,’ eventually subdued the demonstrators. The company closed the; factory this afternoon, and said it would remain closed; tomorrow while union and; company representatives con-| ferred. A mass meeting of; the workers is planned later.;

1 Scholarship. — A Christ’s j College Entrance Scholarship has ben awarded to P. R. ( Dunbar (St Mark’s Day ] School). Exhibitions have i been awarded to N. A. Deans ■ and J. White (Kirkwood In- i termediate), G. Roberts (Hea- i ton Intermediate), and D. K. Wanty (St Martins).