Union ultimatum

Press, 3 September 1977, Page 1

Union ultimatum

NZPA Melbourne The executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions has given the Federal Government two months to hold a national referendum on uranium mining — or else face union sanctions. The executive said there was only one absolutely reliable way to ascertain the opinion of the Australian people. If the Government did not respond positively to the request, the matter would be referred to rank-and-file meetings of trade unionists. Subject to their endorsement, the A.C.T.U. said this could happen: All union members involved in uranium mining would be withdrawn; union members would refuse to supply uranium mining ventures; and they would refuse to

handle uranium ores or products for export. The executive said that during the two months it would continue to allow existing contracts to be honoured.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Douglas Anthony) rejected the referendum call as "a weak way out of this issue" but gave the strongest hint yet that the Government would call an election later this year on the law and order issue. He said the uranium issue might have to be solved by an election if it became too divisive within the nation. Mr Anthony, the Minister for National Resources, was speaking after addressing a physics session of the A.N.Z.A.A.S. conference. Uranium demonstrators who pierced a security net

continually disrupted his address, which took an hour and a half to complete. Mr Anthony was forced to stop several times, and later expressed his concern about what he termed “fanatical” elements in the community.

About 500 anti-uranium demonstrators yesterdav failed to stop the loading of uranium yellowcake aboard a ship at White Bay container terminal in Sydney. The police made 18 arrests as the demonstrators — mainly students — sat down in the road to try to prevent a convoy of 12 container trucks entering the terminal. Dozens more demonstrators were dragged away after refusing repeated requests to move.