FOR FORTY-EIGHT HOUR WEEK

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 121, 22 May 1926, Page 7

FOR FORTY-EIGHT HOUR WEEK

MEN ABANDONING STRIKE

SIGNS OF SETTLEMENT IN COAL

DISPUTE,

(United Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received 22nd May, 10 a.m.)

SYDNEY, This Day.

The latest feature of the forty-four hour strike is the decision of the employees of Mort's Dock and the Pioneer Spring Works to abandon the strike return to work. In both cases the men have agreed to work forty-eight hours.

The Metal Traders' Employers' Association states that members of the Amalgamated and Australasian Engineering Unions have abandoned their claims, made some months ago, for a minimum wage of £6 a week and a forty-four-hour week, and have resumed work on the management's conditions.

Mr. J. Garden, secretary of the Labour Council, said that arrangements were being made for reopening negotiations for settlement.

It is stated that union officials have under consideration proposals for unconditionally declaring off the strike of engine-drivers and firemen. The failure of the leader of the Federal Labour Party, Mr. M. Charlton, to mediate has shattered the last hope of the strikers for a compromise.

Officials of the Miners' Federation meet representatives of the enginedrivers in. conference to-day. It is considered certain that the miners will insist upon the strike being declared off immediately.