THREAT TO STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 32, 6 August 1929, Page 9

THREAT TO STRIKE

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FEDERAL INQUIRIES

United Press Association—By Electric TeleErapb- -Copyright. MELBOURNE, sth August. The Federal Government, having accepted the challenge of the Seamen's Union, has sent a letter to Mr. O'Neill, secretary of the Victorian branch, asking "whether the Press report of his threatening a strike against the engage- j ment of labour supplied by the rival) Seamen's Union is true. If so, the Government proposes to take immediate action to maintain the shipping services.. Mr O'Neill's reply contains a numfcer ot veiled threats against the Government, which he accuses of partiality towards a few "rebellious men who are prepared to cause disruption in the industrial movement of this country." ihe reply otherwise gives no indication whether his members intend to torce a strike on the shipping companies.

A message from Melbourne, anted •ilst July, stated: Another upheaval in the shipping industry is threatened owing to the -feud between the two rival seamen's organisations. The Victorian branch of the Seamen's Union has decided that members should refuse to sail with members of the Australian ™? a?-, n's Vliion- The secretary, Mr. O'Neill, stated that those men who subscribed their names to the rival association for registration would lose employment, and, if the owners insisted upon employing them, the vessels would be hold up. The decision is effective lmmediatelv.