BACK TO WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 18, 23 January 1939, Page 9

BACK TO WORK

PORT KEMBLA MEN

PIG-IRON DISPUTE ENDED

SYDNEY, January 21

The pig-iron dispute at Port Kembl* was settled today, thus ending a twomonths' hold-up at that port. Th« men will report for work on Monday. Their spokesman'issued a report reiterating their dislike of loading metals and materials for an aggressor nation and expressing the hope that the Australian public would bring pressure to bear on the Government with a view to a complete embargo on pig iron for export.

The Port Kembla dispute began with the refusal of watersiders to load pig -~ iron for Japan on the steamer Dal- .. fram on November 15, a refusal which • ; was repeated after the Federal Gov- -■ eminent had threatened to apply the ■• licensing provisions of the Transport Workers' Act at the end of November - last. This would mean that all work- .~ efs would be licensed and their licences cancelled if they committed: / misdemeanours. Delegates from seven. '."• teen unions supported the watersiders* ••■ stand, and the crew of the Dalfram de- '-- clared they would refuse to take the ': ship to sea if the iron was loaded. Railwaymen then refused to handle' ■ trucks in which' the iron was carried. A second steamer, the Nellore, was in- \ volved and had to sail without pig iron. A public meeting at Port Kembla supported the men and called on the Federal Government to prohibit th« export of war materials to Japan.