WATERSIDERS’ STRIKE

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 November 1927, Page 5

WATERSIDERS’ STRIKE

REPLY TO OWNERS

“TERMS IMPOSSIBLE”

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (By Cable-Press Assn.—Copyright.)

MELBOURNE, November 26.

After reading the shipowners’ statement, the Committee of Management of the Waterside Workers’ Federation carried a motion: That the terms for normal resumption of work, as requested by the shipowners, were impossible.

The Committee accepted the threat of the employers to create a lock-out of all shipping, and advised its branches to carry out its instructions without fail.

In the letter 1 to the shipowners, the Federation states that it is still willing to confer, with a view to drafting an agreement covering every phase of the industry, and reply, after stating the terms on which they are prepared to negotiate, adds that subject to these conditions being observed, they are prepared to enforce compliance with the agreement, but this committee was not prepared to enforce what is obviously an obsolete and inefficient award. ■ ” '

SEAMEN TO MEET

MELBOURNE, Nov. 28.

There is every indication that the waterside dispute, unless agreement is reached before Wednesday next, when the owners’ ultimatum expires, will develop into something approaching the 1917 dispute,’ particularly if the shipowners resort to the establishment of a free labour bureau. A great deal depends on the attitude of ’the seamen. The latter Are holding the monthly stop , work meetings at all ports on Tuesday, at which they will decide what attitude, to adopt.

BRISBANE DEVELOPMENTS

BRISBANE, Nov. 28.

The overtime strike is seriously delaying the departure of all shipping. A fresh dispute has arisen, the watersiders refusing to work a cargo of cement on the steamer Tairoa unless paid an extra shilling hourly. The agents for the steamer are referring the dispute to the Board of Trade.