AUSTRALIAN STRIKE

Evening Star, Issue 19723, 25 November 1927, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN STRIKE

THE WATERSIDERS’ DISPUTE DECISION OF SHIPOWNERS FULL OBSERVANCE OF AWARDS. LONG STRUGGLE PREDICTED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, November 24.’ A joint conference of overseas and interstate shipowners decided in future to insist on a full observance of all awards and agreements with tho Waterside Workers’ Federation. When informed of this decision, tho Management Committee of the Waterside Workers’ Federation declared it was tantamount to a challenge, and that a prolonged strike on the wateriron t now seemed unavoidable. PERISHABLE GOODS. PROTECTION OF PRIMARY PRODUCERS. CANBERRA, November 24. Referring to the strike, Mr Bruce promised that the Government would do evertyhing in its power to protect the primary producers who found it necessary to handle their own able goods, -. NO CHANGE AT SYDNEY. SYDNEY, November 25. (Received November 25, at 1.30 a.ni-), Locally the watersiders’ overtime strike has undergone little change. Any development is largely dependent on tho shipowners’ conference, wlnch*> is sitting in Melbourne. . . TRADES UNION COUNCIL INTERVENES CONFERENCE WITH WATER- - SIDERS DESIRED. DISCIPLINARY ACTION EXPECTED. MELBOURNE, November 25. (Received November 25, at 10.30 a.m.) The executive of the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trade Unions resolved to intervene in the overtime strike, and to request the Management Committee _ of the Waterside Workers’ Federation to meet tbe representatives of the council in conference. Although the proceedings were in camera, it is learned that strong exception was taken by some of the representatives to tho action of the watersiders in jeopardising the industry at a time when so many workers are unable to find employment. The view is expressed that, should the strike be permitted to extend, many members of other unions will become automatically involved, with the consequent loss of employment. Objection is also taken to tbe direct action methods of the watersiders. who put the strike into operation without first consulting the other organisations which aro likely to bo affected. It is auticinatcd that the watersiders will resent the action of the council in intervening in tho dispute, and will refuse to grant a conference, but it is believed that the council will be called upon to discipline tho Watersiders Federation with the object of protecting the interests of other waterfront unions. An official statement setting out the views of tho watersiders claims that the dispute originated in the vexatious delays of the Arbitration Court in hearing tho union’s plaint, together with the studied hostility of the employers in every attempt that has been made in tho last two years by both the court and the federation to rcach_ an agreement in keeping with the industry. The statement concludes that right from tho commencement the federation has earnestly desired to effect an agreement. QUEENSLAND WATERSIDERS JOIN BRISBANE, November 85(Received November 25, at 10.30 a.m.V Acting on the instructions of the Federal Management Committee, tho Quoehsland waterside workers have decided to fall into- line with tho other ports in tho Commonwealth, and refuse to work overtime. It is understood that the Committee of Management threatened p> declare tho port of Brisbane “ black ” unless, the Queensland watersiders joined the' strikers. So far only one or two sels have been delayed at Briabani*