MINERS’ CODE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21854, 26 October 1945, Page 5

MINERS’ CODE

DISCIPLINARY PLAN FEDERATION’S POWERS APPEAL TO COALOWNERS SYDNEY. Oct. 25. Aggregate meetings of miners, the first to be held next Sunday, will consider the new policy formulated at the recent convention of the Miners' Federation and proposals for a new disciplinary code for all members. The code provides penalties lor unauthorised strikes and empowers the Miners’ Federation to expel members for repeated disruption. The first meeting will be asked to apply the disciplinary code in its entirety in every district provided the Governments are prepared to leave discipline to the union and to enforce the Coal. Mines Regulations Act on all colliery owners. The preamble to the code tells the miners that disciplinary action has cost the federation thousands of pounds and has weakened its lighting strength. It adds: “The need for discipline in all walks of life is recognised by all responsible people. This is true of the miners equally with any other section. The history of our industry, however — the hurts, losses, hatreds and frustration which have been so much a feature of our lives and the absolute instability occasioned by the owners’ cut-throat, wildcat attitude—has borne in us a resentment and willingness to fight the boss on any and every occasion. The coalowner must fight to win better conditions in the pit and improve living standards, but he must be fought sensibly and by the union as a whole —not by individual members or lodges pursuing a policy in conflict with the federation.” The code provides that no stoppage except where safety is concerned should take place at any time without the endorsement of the district committees or the executive. The miners have chosen Sunday for their meetings to avoid the loss of coal productiom