WATERSIDERS ACT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 69, 18 September 1925, Page 7

WATERSIDERS ACT

NO WORK ON STRIKERS'

SHIPS

"OWNERS HAVE DECLARED FOR ".'■ ivAR" -' ■:;.'■■■_ , ■

The shipping crisis brought about by the British seamen in Australian ports having struck for the. restoration of £1 per month by which their wages have been reduced since> the ships 4eft Britain, has been accentuated by v the decision of the waterside workers, through their Federal Committee, deciding to act in support of the strikers. The committee, in its manifesto, declares ■ '■' its belief that the shipowners • "have no desire for immediate industrial peace,* '. and • 'have declared emphatically in favour of industrial war." ' ■'/•■• ■ (united puess Association—copmighi.) SIDNEY,, 17th September. The Federal Committee ,of the Waterside Workws'j Federation of Australia has issued a manifesto stating that the committee affirmed the right of every trade unionist to resent a reduction in wages or an attack upon working conditions by the employers, and viewed with disgust the action of Mr. Havelock Wilson in appealing to the capitalist Governments throughout the world to buldgeon: the members of his union into accepting jeduced wages. The Waterside Workers' Federation had therefore decided to assist the British- seamen to obtain their just demands, and had decided to instruct members not to work cargo in pi* out of-oversea steamers on - which the originul crews have left their jobs and have" been replaced by, othex\«rewa.. '-.. ■ Where steam has been supplied by ships' engineers, members will only discharge cargo." , .< ' Vessels manned by foreign and coloured crews will be worked. .

Members are also advised to render

financial assistance to British seamen. "EVERY AVENUE EXPLOITED?

The manifesto adds : "Prior to arriving at its decision,' the committee" had watched the. deliberations of the Commonwealth' Labour Council, and had conferred, with the council for the purpose of exploiting every avenue!by which they could assist •. the seamen ' without causing hardship to the trade union or political movement ■ From the failure of the owners' re- ' presentatives to meet the council, it was evident that the owners had no desire for immediate industrial peace, and the committee was forced to view

the matter in a very serious light, and could not be held, responsible in any I way for what the futuro might determine. The Bhip owners had declared emphatically in favour of industrial war, and the watersiders must accept

their declaration,

"The Waterside Workers' Federation was forced /to take up :. the first Hue of defence, and therefore appealed to trade unions generally to Jassist-in every way. to bring about a, satisfactory end' ing to the dispute;" ■ ' The manifesto signifies tha,t watersid-, em will'not load at any Australian port any ship which has: left any other port with a crew of free labour or worked by its own officers and engineers. It Ms therefore evident that within a very short time the whole" export and import trade will become definitely' tied ■ up, with the exception of. such trade as is conducted by the Commonwealth Line and foreign companies.-