POWER TROUBLE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 57, 5 September 1945, Page 7

POWER TROUBLE

EXTENSION IN N.S.W.

SYDNEY, September 4. The Acting .Premier of New South Wales, Mr. Baddeley, will confer with, the Prime Minister, Mr. Chifley, to find a formula for settlement of tha Bunnerong power station strike. Tha dispute has extended to the Pyrmont power-house, Sydney, where enginemen were withdrawn. The maintenance men'have threatened that, if other stations supply power to the county council, they will also become involved in the. dispute.. . The Bunnerong and Pyrmont stations are now being operated by "white collar" volunteers who took; over in response to an appeal by the county council. Engine drivers and firemen of the running staff at both power-houses subsequently refused" to work with this volunteer labour and walked out. The men are on strike in defiance of the opinion of their unions. If a request by the • Bunnerong power-house enginemen is granted, the electricity strike will spread to the New South Wales coalfields. The Bunnerong engine drivers and firemen decided to ask an extension of the strike to engine men on the coalfields, which would mean a general coal stoppage in New South Wales and the loss of 48,000 tons daily-^more than,all the other States ■ produce. ■"" The request will be- decided by a telegraphic vote of members of the State .executive of the Federated Engine Drivers' and Firemen's Association. The decision may,take several days, and much now depends on. tht current negotiations with the Stata and Federal Governments. Meanwhile, there has been no interruption in supply of electricity "in the metropolitan area.