COMPLETE PARALYSIS THREAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22243, 31 January 1947, Page 5

COMPLETE PARALYSIS THREAT

AUSTRALIAN WATERFRONT CONDITIONS

FEDERATION BANS WORK AFTER 5 F.M.

(10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, January 31. A complete paralysis of the waterfront throughout the Commonwealth next week appears likely following a decision by the Waterside Workers’ Federation to ban all work after 5 p.m. Port officials are unlikely to allow this “half-strike” to proceed unchallenged. It is believed that when calls for work on the second shift are refused by the men next Tuesday suspensions will be made and a general stoppage will result.

The Federal council of the Waterside Workers’ Federation has directed watersiders in all Australian ports to refuse to work any ship outside ordinary hours as from next Tuesday. This order automatically abolishes the second regular working shift between 0 p.m. and 11 p.m. and restricts practically all watersiders to the day shift

of eight hours between 3 a.m. and 5 p.m. Shipping officials say that the decision will double the turn-around time of ships and clutter up the ports with idle vessels. The general secretary of the federation. Mr. J. Hcaly. said that the restricted working times would continue until the men’s claims for annual leave and attendance money were granted.