PREMIER SUGGESTS HIGHER WAGES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 51, 28 August 1925, Page 7

PREMIER SUGGESTS HIGHER WAGES

CONFERENCE .WITH UNIONS STATE EMPLOYEES OFFERED 5 PER CENT. (OKITHO PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPXRIOIIT.) (Received 28th August, 10 a.m.) BRISBANE, This Day.. At a conference between the Premier and representatives of the unions at-. tached to the Australian Labour Party, the Premier announced that the Govern* ment had no objection to an increase in the basic wage, but wished to make it clear that it considered that any,.increase would apply to all workers in. the State governed by awards, of, the Ctitil't. The unions should now approach the Full Bench of the Arbitration Court for revision of its previous judgment. If this was done the Government \vould agree to an increase of 5 per cent, as far as Government employees were concerned, and to a proportionate increase to those workers who were earning ajnounts between the basic wage and £300 a year, and who. were not already provided for.

After this announcement, the representatives of the Railway Strike Council withdrew, as the Baihvayraen's. Vigilance. Committee previously notified the Premier that it would decline to meet the Cabinet if any unions other than'those of railwa-ymen were present at the conference, and -insisted on the right of the raihvaymen only to participate in the conference. Owing to the withdrawal' of these delegates the conference was unable to reach finality. STRIKERS OBJECT TO FORMALITY At a late hour a letter was sent to the Premier by the- Strike Council stating that after hearing the report of the dele-, gates to the conference it was not entirely satisfied. While it appreciated the Government's offer to restore the 5 per cent, increase, it was not in accord with the method of doing so. It is of opinion that the. Government should dispense with the formality of approaching the Court by conceding the claims forthwith, and so assist towards a speedy settlement of the present dislocation.