DIRECT ACTION BY BIG UNIONS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 289, 5 September 1945, Page 7

DIRECT ACTION BY BIG UNIONS

Unrest In Australia EMBARRASSMENT TO GOVERNMENT (By Telegraph.—Press Sssu.—Copyright.) (Received September 4, 7.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 4.' The wave of industrial unrest in Australia is causing a serious setback to the smooth transition from wartime to peacetime conditions and is an embarrassment to the Federal Labour Government. As the "Sydney Morning Herald” puts it, the coalminers have long since set themselves above the law. Now, other unions accustomed to accept regulation of their condi-/ tions by the courts are also showing a preference for direct action. The oue-day strike of railway workers in Victoria last week was a case in point. In Brisbane, the tramway men have been on strike for a week over the roster system and one of their officials hag frankly expounded the doctrine that the strike weapon is to be preferred to arbitration when there is no guarantee that the Court will grant the union claim. For the second time this year, the maintenance men at the Bunnerong power station arc on strike and Sydney’s electricity supply—recurrently . threatened with rationing because the miners will not produce enough coal—is again in jeopardy. For tlie past fortnight, half a dozen or so mines have been idle every day iu New South Wales. Already numbers of industries in this State and Victoria have had to close down because of lack of coal. Arbitration System Challenged. The perturbation of serions-minded Australians over tliis wave of strikes is reflected in newspaper editorials. The "Sydney Morning Herald” says that at a time when peace in industry is essential to the smooth transition from war conditions, the arbitration system—?the established Australian method of adjusting disputes—is being widely challenged. “Nobody expects the arbitration system to be an iufalible preventive of strikes,” the paper adds, "but it is in danger of becoming discredited when powerful sections of key industries flout the authority of the Courts. The danger is greater when Labour Governments, in their anxiety to obtain a settlement, not only fail to uphold that authority, but actually take steps to impair it.” The “Herald” adds that the stoppages are serious in their implications for the Labour movement, industrial and political.

The “Daily Telegraph,” in agreeing with this view, says: “The greatest problem the Prime Minister, Mr. Chifiey, inherits from the late Prime Minister is the job of keeping the militants of the trade union movement in line. Mr. Chifley must realize that his Government will fail in its job and damage Australia gravely by its failure if it cannot maintain peace i|t industry over the next few years; when we have to reorder our affairs internally while building ourselves back into the system of international trade. The militants are as much bis enemies as the reactionaries. Unless he destroys them, they will destroy him—and the Labour Party as well,” '

NATIONAL AGREEMENT WANTED

Miners Decide Against Strike Weapon (Received September 4, 7 pan.) SYDNEY, September 4.

The miners’ convention, meeting in Sydney, decided that there should be a departure from the use of the strike weapon, and that the miners should serve on the colliery proprietors claims to be covered by a national agreement extending over five years. It wag claimed at the meeting that a long-term agreement and the elimination of strikes would assist materially in stabilizing the industry by ensuring continuity of wages and conditions and would pave the way to greater production, Delegates said that the plan would also develop a greater sense of responsibility among the miners. The claims to be served on the colliery proprietors include: 52 weeks’ work and pay each year, including three .weeks’ annual leave and three weeks’ sick pay; a 35Jiour week of five days; adult payments at IS years; no stoppages other thau on safety issues unless authorized by the central committee; payment for statutoryholidays and appropriate shift rates. The convention again-urged, nationalization. aud urged as temporary measures that all State Governments take over the mines in each area. Yesterday nearly 7000 tons of coal was lost because' of disputes at“the mines, eight of which were idle. , Because of coal shortage, i 0() employees of Australian Glass Manufacturers, Sydney, have received dismissal notices, and the remaining 1700 employees will receive their notices today. The secretary of the company said the dismissal of 2400 employees would mean the closing down of the works.

VOLUNTEER LABOUR OBJECTED TO

Power Strike Spreads (Received September 4, 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 4The Acting-Premier, Mr. Baddelej, will confer - with the Prime Minister, Mr. Chitley, to find a formula for settlement of the Bunnerong power station strike. The dispute has extended to the Pyrmont power-house, Sydney, where engine-men were withdrawn. The maintenance men have threatened that, if other stations supply power to the county council, they also will become involved in the dis■l>UThe' Bunnerong and Pyrmont stations are now being operated by “white collar volunteers wiio took over in response, to an appeal by the county council. Enginedrivers and firemen members of the runiiiti- staff at both power-houses subsequently refused to work with this volunteer labour and walked out also, xhe men are on strike in defiance of the opinion of their unions.