RAILWAY STRIKE

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 August 1925, Page 5

RAILWAY STRIKE

QUEENSLAND UNIONS DIVIDED

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

BRISBANE, August 27

The Northern and Central railway workers acted against the advice of their Union in striking, as the Executive asked them to wait until the Cabinet met before taking extreme action. At Rockhampton over two thousand are rendered idle, and many hundreds in other centres. So far the strike has not affected the inter-State service.

Many industries are being paralysed through the railway strike. The Rockhampton men after deciding to strike grahted permission' for a number of railway workers to remain on the Railways in order to enable the running men to return to their home depot.

The Disputes Committee passed a resolution declaring “black” all goods on railway property from midnight. The effect of the strike in the north will be severe. Sugar mills in the lower Burdfekin district will be compelled to cease crushing, as storage facilities ,are exhausted.

GOVT. OFFER DECLINED.

BRISBANE, Aug. 28.

At a conference between the Premier and representatives of unions attached to the Australian Labour Party, the Premier announced that the Government had no objection- to an increase in the basic, wage, but wished to make it clear it was of opinion that any increase would apply to all workers in the State, governed by the awards of the Court. Unions should approach the Full Bench of the Arbitration Court for a revision of the previous judgment. If this was done, the Government will agree to an increase of five per cent so tar as Government employees are concerned, and to proportionate increase to those workers between the basic wage and £5OO per annum, who are not already provided lor. After the announcement the representatives of the Railway Strike vouii ci'l withdrew, as the Railwaymen's Vigilance Committee had previously notified the Premier it declined to meet the Cabinet, if any unions, other than those of railwaymen, were present at the conference. It insisted on the right of the railwaymen only to participate in the conference. Owing to the withdrawal of these delegates, the conference was unable *-o reach finality. At a. later hour, a letter was sent to the Premier by the Strike Council, stating that after hearing the report of the delegates to the conference, it was not entirely satisued. While appreciating the Government’s offer, to restore the- five per cent increase, if. was not in accord with, the method of doing so. It considered that the Government should dispense with the formality of approaching uie Court, by conceding the claims forthwith, so as to assist towards a speedy settlement of the present dislocation .