WHARVES IDLE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 145, 13 March 1908, Page 7

WHARVES IDLE.

SYDNEY STGISE.

MAY SPREAD TO OTHER STATES. PORT PARALYSED. BY TELEGRAPH —MESS ASSOCIATION-—COPYRIGHT (Rec. March 12, 4 p.m.) ~ Sydney, March 12. The strike decided upon by the wharf-labourers-was. enforced to-day. ' Excepting the North Coast and Illawarra Companios, which employ non-unionists, and against which the strike is dircoted, practically all tho inter-state wharves arc idlo, a few permanent hands only working. . The companies most affected are the Ho,ward Smith, the Huddart Parker, tho Union, and tho Adelaide Companies. TROUBLE EXPLAINED. UNION FORCES A CRISIS. (Rec. March 12, 11.44 p.m.) : : Sydnoy, March 12. The strike has , almost entirely paralysed tho shipping trade of tho port. . Oyer 30C0 wharf labourers ceased work as a protest against-the North Coast Steam Navigation, Newcastle and -Hunter River, and 'Illawarra companies, employing non-unionists; These tbreo companies pay wharf labourers Is. lid. per hour,for. day, and Is. 4}d. per hour for night, work; while'the other companies pay. Is. l jd. and Is. Bd. The trouble with the three : companies named has existed since January, when the Unionists employed by them; struck for,the ■rates given by the inter-state companies. The men havo no grievances against the other' companies; but. they -object to, the charge of helping, tho coastal companies''in their fight against tho Unionists on strike by touching cargo which non-unionists have handled. . . '

general strike was decided upon to bring matters to a crisis, in the hope, of forcing, a recognition, of thoir claims. ■The' officials of the Wharf Labourers' Union cxthat jthp strike should, affect in-'tor-state companies, but urge that this is the only, method of reaching a settlement. ; i A meeting of steamship ownors was held, this morning.; Subsequently the'-representa-tives-.of-'the Wharf Labourers' Union met the owners, and officially informed them of the decision of tho men. ; The owners motagain in tho afternoon and discussed'the sit uation.

PICKETS APPOINTED. ALL QUIET AND ORDERLY. (ltec. March 13, 0.30 a.m.) ' ' . Sydney, March 12. Throughout' the day'the'' strikers "congr&gat'ed along the harbour ,front, and in the vicinity "of'.tho'-wharves' of tho three coastal companies,,over wliicVtho.trouble'has arisen; vfhero Worlc is'proceeding as usual. V .' At tho other', wharves work is confined to a few'permanent hands' 'and tho crews of arriving vessels'. Thero are engaged in discharging. perishable' 'Cargo and passengers' luggage', .but so far they havo not attempted to handle any . other cargo; , : - Some of - the wharves have declined "to receive cargo. ; Among tho vessels, which arrived to-day, and which-are held up, arc the Wcstralia, .Moldavia, and Gongala. ' /. ! A striko ' c6mmit\eo has • been appointed, and tho wharves aro picketed. Everything' is orderly; and quiet.' , ■ The men express themselves determined to fight to-a ,finish,- andclaim 'that they aro sure, of tho support o*f other' Unions. ,' .)'/

A UNION WARNING. ALL SHIPPING MAY BE TIED UP. : (Ree. March 13, 1.7 a.m.) ' '■ Sydney, March 12. It transpires 'that negotiations 'had been proceeding between ' the Steamship' Owners' Association • and the Wharf " Labourers' Union since tho commencement of the trouble with- the three coastal companies. With' a , view to a settlement,. tho Union offered ito handle • the cargo of ; coastal steamors if tho steamers woro worked by mombera of \tho Union, receiving Union.rates of pay.; The. .coastal companies declined to accept theso terms. ; .Fiirthor . negotiations, failing, a; ballot , was decided .upon by tho Union.. It is understood that tho .'voting : was' approximately 900 for'and 600 against a strike, out of a membership of 3300. ~ ' . v The of the Wharf Labourers' Union stated to-night that it is probable that tho troublo will extend to'the whole of tho States. Ho did not expect tho. strike to last long, as the o'ntire shipping of the Commonwealth would bp tiod up if' it did.: ' SYMPATHY. .', STRIKE AT NEWCASTLE. . (Rcc. March 12, 11.20 p.m.) , Sydney, March 12. The. Nowcastlo wharf : labourers • have struck in sympathy with tho, Sydney strikors.