WATERSIDE REBELS

Evening Star, Issue 25769, 16 April 1946, Page 5

WATERSIDE REBELS

An Intolerable Situation Flagrant Breaches of Awards A Real Community Hold-up (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.) (Rec. 10.25 a.m.) . SYDNEY, April 16. Following the conspicuous success of their intervention in the Indonesian situation, Sydney's ■ waterside workers are carrying their irritation campaign a step further. In two successive weeks they have timed strikes so that their full weight would be felt during week-ends. This means, of course, that ships are immobilised for as much as three days, with a loss of one day's work only to the watersiders. Ship masters and companies endeavour to get their vessels to sea over the week-end, as otherwise they are forced to pay wharf and harbour dues while the ships lie idle. By striking on some secondary issue on the Friday, the watersiders can create disorganisation of shipping out of all proportion to the effort involved.

Could Paralyse AH Movement

The week before last, a stoppage which paralysed a score of ships concerned double-dumped wool, discussions on which could be carried* on" ■without the need of a show of force. Last week ,1,000 men, including a majority who were responsible for the previous hold-up, refused to offer for labour because four of their number had been dismissed earlier in the week for refusing to handle coke, and one for returning late from the meal hour. Because of that, 32 ships could not move. Unfortunately the watersiders realise only too well the power they are in industry. Mr Cm'fley stated in the House of Representatives that the reason the Government had not taken

stronger measures in the matter of the hold-up of Dutch shipping was that, the watersiders were capable of paralysing overseas trade and the shipment of food to Britain. This admission was damaging enough, but it was not news to either the watersiders or the exporters. Moderate members of unions arepowerless to Intervene. One senior member of the Waterside Workers' Federation has stated that the attitude adopted by some members is incensing the majority. Flagrant breaches of the award by these men include late return from meal hours, and-other slack conduct.

The Procedure

When taxed with misdemeanours they dispute the charges and are suspended. This means that a dispute exists in the job and their mates are bound to refuse to, replace them; On a call for labour, the rest of the watersiders at the pick-up centre-refuse to offer for work and a major crisis develops. Such conduct is more than ever inexcusable at a time like this, when Australia is pledged to lend all possible aid in alleviating conditions in the famine areas overseas. Thirty-one of the immobilised ships are overseas vessels, and one of the first affected is loading flour for India. It was intended that she should be worked right through the week-end,

as the position of starving millions in India is desperate. " When a bountiful season is increasing Australia's capacity to help, it is intolerable to the public to see waterfront stoppages holding back shipments," says the 'Herald.' "Coming on top of the scandal of the food relief ships for the Netherlands Indies, the. watersiders' latest action must create a deplorable impression of Australia's sincerity in honouring her solemn undertakings. Our friends overseas could well remind us that when we ourselves stood in peril four years ago nothing was allowed to delay the help which was rushed out to our rescue."