STAFF WALKS OUT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22439, 20 September 1947, Page 6

STAFF WALKS OUT

WOMEN’S HOSPITAL

SECRETARY’S DISMISSAL

SYDNEY, Sept. 19. About 120 employees of Crown Street Hospital for women unanimously decided to ceaie work until the hospital secretary, Mr R. J. Barrett, had been reinstated pending a court decision on iiis dismissal.

Nearly al lthe employees in all classes of work in the hospital have stopped work. They agreed, however, that all essential services to patients would not be inte r rupted unless voluntary labour was called in. Tlie Hospital Employees’ Union has referred the dispute to the State Industrial Registrar and has asked him fo ran immediate conference as a matter of urgency. Fourteen laundry workers locked themselves in last night because they feared that voluntary labour would be called. They were fed by other striking hospital workers. The Hospital Board terminated Mr. Barrett's services as from August 30 but the Hospital Officers’ Association made application to the Industrial Commission for his reinstatement.

The case was adjourned and the board agreed to extend payment until September 30. Mr. Barrett agreed to absent himself from the office for a week to allow the board to prepare its case, but when he left yestcrdav four senior members of the office staff resigned