COOKS’ DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 198, 23 May 1928, Page 9

COOKS’ DISPUTE

CONFERENCE OF OWNERS AND UNION REPRESENTATIVES

COOKS’ LEADERS REFUSE TO ATTEND

(United Preet Association.—-By Electric

Telegraph.—Copyright.)

Melbourne, May 22.

The conference between the executive of the Australasian Council of Trades Unions and representatives of the Marine Unions and the shipowners discussed the position for an hour and a half, but achieved nothing in the direction of a settlement. The owners .stood firmly by their terms, already announced. •

The union’s committees meet to-day to discuss the outcome of the conference and decide on tlieir next move. Meanwhile, hundreds of men. opposed to a strike, are idle and helpless. The Trades Union Council is unable to obtain replies to its messages to Mr. Tudehope. the cooks’ general secretary, who is recalcitrant. He declined to allow his union to be represented at the conference with the shipowners. The deputy-chairman of the Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association. Mr. Elford, stated that there was a full and free discussion by the conference. and the shipowners pointed out to the trades union representatives that the offer they had made to the cooks lacked nothing they enjoyed under their former award.

Mr. Jacob Johnson, secretary of the Australian Seamen’s Union, who has returned to Sydney, declared that the council of the trades unions were a lot of bushrangers, and were taking part in the dispute without the cooks’ authority, while some Melbourne officials appeared to be the willing tools of the shipowners.

TRADES COUNCIL MAY TAKE CONTROL

(Rec. May 22, 5.5 p.m.)

Melbourne, May 22.

Despite the fact that the cooks repudiated the intervention of the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions, it is expected the council will endeavour to reopen negotiations with the owners. If the cooks’ leaders continue to refuse to recognise tlie council’s authority, tlie council will conclude terms of settlement with the owners and take control of tlie dispute out of the cooks’ leaders’ hands.

COOKS’ UNION SEEKING CONFERENCE

TO DISCUSS TERMS OF SETTLEMENT

(Rec. May 22, 5.5 p.m.)

Sydney, May 22.

Mr. Tudehope, secretary of the Marine Cooks’ Union, states that the union is now going to endeavour to convene a conference with the owners to discuss proposed terms of settlement. Mr. Tudehope strongly defended tlie action of the cooks yesterday in refusing the mediation of tlie Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions, stating that’ they do not recognise the latter’s authority to intervene in tlie matter without the consent of the organisation directly concerned. He added that the union intended to notify the owners that the Australian and New Zealand (Council of Trades Unions was acting w’thout the authority of the cooks, and that the latter were now going to attempt to arrange a conference to discuss {lie question of the abolition of the roster system, together with other terms. FUTURE AWARDS CLAUSE CONCERNING STRIKES PROVIDING FOR SUSPEN- . SION

Sydney, May 22.

In the' Commonwealth Arbitration Court, Chief Judge Dethbridge, dealing with the new award for the Merchant Service Guild, said that he intended to put in all future awards a clause that in the event of an unreasonable strike or lock-out the award shall be suspended.