AUSTRALIAN UNIONS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 286, 29 August 1933, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN UNIONS

Arbitration or Strike The Australian Workers’ Union, which is the greatest union numerically and financially in the southern hemisphere, has supported the policy of arbitration for a quarter of a century. A ballot is now to be taken among its 100,000 members throughout Australia to decide whether It should' continue to remain In tho Arbitration Court or resort to the strike weapon. ■ The decision to take a plebiscite was reached at the last convention of the union, following repeated demands from the shearing sheds. The general returning officer (Mr. T. J. Donovan) announced recently that the ballot papers were now available, and that the ballot would close about the middle of December. The A.W.U. was one of the earliest unions registered under the Federal Arbitration Act, and was one of the first unions to appear before the Federal Arbitration Court. It has continued its association with the court ever since. Some years ago a similar plebiscite was taken, and the members decided by a large majority to continue the arbitration policy. The wages of shearers have been reduced 20 per cent, by the court, the total reduction, including the cost of living reduction, amounts to 33 per cent. An application was lodged in February for the restoration of the prereduction rates, but it has not yet come before the court. The last' strike of any magnitude launched by the A.W.U. was in 1922. Before the days of the Arbitration Court the A.W.U. figured in most of the big Industrial upheavals which disturbed the closing years of the last century, ami resulted in the formation of the Labour Party. In the annual ballot for the election of the federal officers of the union the general president (Senator J. Barnes) will be opposed by Mr. T. Renwick, of • Petersham, and the general secretary (Mr. E. Grayndier, M.L.C.) by -Mr. A. E. Roberts. The following nominations have been received for vice-presi-dent in New South Wales: Messrs. T. Bartie, W. F. Bodkin, H. J. Courtney, and C. A. Dalton.