AUSTRALIAN WATERSIDERS

Evening Star, Issue 18784, 7 November 1924, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN WATERSIDERS

THE STRIKE CONTINUES^ PROTRACTED STRUGGLE PROBABLE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Press Association. SYDNEY, November 6. It is authoritatively stated that before deciding upon a plan of campaign against the Shipping Labor Bureau the AVatersido Workers’ Federation, with the endorsement of the transport group, obtained a definite assurance from each Labor Premier in the Commonwealth that he would not permit the establishment of a Shipping Labor Bureau xvhen the trouble started. The waterside workers state that they are prepared to go on indefinitely with (ho overtime strike, because for the first time in many months most of them are earning considerably more than they have done for years. This, they state, is duo to the double shifts which are working to expedite the handling of the cargoes. . The Ferndale is still without a 'complete crow. All the stewards have now left. Another attempt will he made on Friday to sign on a complete crew. . Present indications point to a protracted struggle between the Commonwealth Lino and the unions. A meeting of (he stewards resolved that no member would apply for employment on the Ferndale until the men to whom the Seamen’s Union objected were discharged. FERNDALE AND FORDSDALE. SYDNEY, November 6. The Equity Court last week declared the expulsion from the Seamen’s Union of the former members of the Fordsdale’s crew ultra vires and illegal. One of the causes of the trouble on the Ferndale is that several of the Fordsdale’s original crow are being employed on that vessel, and apparently the court’s decision is being flouted by the unions. .It is understood that an offer has been made by the union officials, that, providing (hose men who were formerly expelled from the Seamen’s Union agreed to leave immediately the question of their reinstatement will ho placed before the next stop-work meeting of the union. The insinuation of this offer is that the men affected are not at present members of the union, and that the decision of tiie Equity Court is being disregarded and (he interim injunction restraining union officials from interfering with (heir rights as members of the union is not being obeyed. It is stated that a certain legal process is being placed in operation. [ln August last the Seamen’s Union of Australia decided to expel from the union all the original members of (lie crew of (lie Fordsdale who took the steamer away on tho maiden run in defiance of the union.] ATTITUDE OF THE COMPANIES. A POLICY OF PATIENCE, POLICE PROTECT BUREAU WORKERS. SYDNEY, November 6. (Received November 7, at 1 a.m.) It is elated that interstate shipping companies will endeavor to break the overtime strike by a policy of passive nonresistance, and by laying up their steamers. (Received November 7, at 1.20 a.m.) The trouble with the wharf workers may be protracted. Tho oversea shipping companies, with the aid of the bureau workers, can carry on indefinitely, but the interstate linos will continue to tie up their steamers as soon as they arc unloaded, and they will not employ cither bureau or free labor. They believe that they xvill be able to stand the siege longer than the Wharf Laborers’ Union. 'The Sailors and Soldiers’ .Shipping Bureau lias combined into a wharf laborers union, and it will shortly apply for registration. A member of the Shipping Bureau while on his way to work was assaulted, and a body of police has been despatched to the wharves as a precautionary measure. In future extra police will be placed on duty where the bureau men may be subjected to violence. The Morcton Bay’s passengers will be sent by train to Brisbane on Friday. It is probable that the crew will be paid off and tho ship tied up. OWNERS AVANT COMPULSORY CONFERENCE. MELBOURNE, November 7. (Received November 7, at 11 a.m.) The Australasian Steamship Owners’ Federation has decided to ask the President of the Arbitration Court to summon a compulsory conference in connection with the overtime strike.