AUSTRALIAN STRIKE.

Grey River Argus, 1 December 1927, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN STRIKE.

SPLIT IN OWNERS’ ASSN. I ; Commonwealth Line Takes Separate Action. RUMOURED POSTPONEMENT. OF STRIKE. 1 TIL LAFTEB CHRISTMAS. (Aus. aj.d N.Z. Cable Assn). MELBOURNE, November 30. There is every possibility of the overtime strike developing into a serious deadlock, in. the event of the absence of outside intervention. An emergency committee appointed by the Australian Council of Trade Unions, has been advised to watch '■vents, but further intervention by that body is unlikely, although should snips be tied up, as threatened by the shipowners, widespread unemployment would result among the members of many other unions which are linked with the Council. It will then be essential for outside organisations to step in, despite the assurances given by the Watersiders’ Federation that it is capable of conducting its own disputes without outside interference.

Officials of the Commonwealth Line of steamers announced that an agreement was reached with the Watersiders’ Federation, by which employment will be offered to men under conditions which obtained immediately prior to the overtime strike. The Federation will provide labour for the Commonwealth liners, and if necessary will permit overtime to be worked. The announcement came as a bombshell to the owners, particularly as the Commonwealth Line, being a member of the Overseas Representatives’ Association, was a party to the ultimatum served by the owners on the watersiders. The present agreement amounts to a repudiation of that ultimatum. Negotations were kept a close secret until an agreement was reached. It is unofficially stated that the management committee of the Watersiders’ Federation decided the strike be postpond until after Christmas.

OWNERS’ TERMS. SYDNEY,” November 30. The following statement issued by the Shipowners’ Association, says: At eight o’clock to-day employment will be offered to the watersiders. The terms of engagement have been those defined by the .Arbitration Court award and agreements previously accepted by the Union. Acceptance of the provisions of the award will not impose any hardship on any worker, and will not reduce the rate of wages paid under the award. Moreover, shipowners will not cancel or withdraw the concessions or agreements naturally made, although these are additional to, and not recognised by the award. The only change will be the elimination of the arbitrary illegal rubs and 'restrictions which the oCurt refosed to grant or which were enforced without reference to the Court. COAL MINERS EFFECTED. SYDNEY, November 30. Although the inter-State shipping is greatly delayed ,it is not anticipated that this will affect the departure of the Maunganui, Marama and Makura. It is stated that if shipping at Newcastle is at a standstill for more than a few days, the majority of the Northern coal mines will be compelled to close, idling more than twelve thousand miners. . ..BRUCE TO TAKE ACTION Replying to a request from a depuration of Tasmanian members of the Senate and Representatives, that action be taken immediately to relieve the position in Tasmania, caused by the overtime strike, Mr. Bruce said that the Ministry was closely watching the dispute. It hoped within a few days it would be possible to decide what action the Commonwealth could usefully take to end the dispute.

Workers’ Firm Stand.

NO OVERTIME TO BE WORKED. (Received November 30 at 8.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 30. Although warned before engagement that they are engaged under award conditions including overtime, waterside workers started work this morning. An attempt in the afternoon, however, to engage workers failed, the men saying that eight o’clock in the morning was the time to engage them. It remains to be seen what developments will be, when the men are wanted for overtime duty to-night. It is anticipated that a crisis will then develop. Mr Seale, Secretary of the Sydney Branch of the Waterside Workers’ Federation, confirmed the statement that the watersiders had reached an agreement with the Commonwealth Line to work overtime, and they will make the same agreement with the inter-State Companies which did not possess any ulterior motives. The crew of Kiwitea were paid off. Further overseas vessels got away today, some without completing loading. “POSTPONEMENT” A RUMOUR. MELBOURNE, November 30. Though an unofficial statement gained currency that the overtime strike had been postponed till after Christmas, the Watersiders were not working to-day. Several hundred attended a morning pickup, but in view of the shipowners’ ukase, that they will not take on men unless the latter agreed to work overtime, none of those offering signed on. Vigilance officers of the Federation instructed the men already engaged for to-day to continue work on conditions on which they were engaged, but to I eease punctually at five o’clock. Work

was continued on a few vessels, but all overseas steamers, including the Maloja, were tied up. It is not known whether the Maloja will remain in Melbourne or go on to Sydney, her terminal port. She has two thousand tons of cargo for Melbourne and three thousand for Sydney. She landed 130 passengers at Melbourne, and has 160 for Sydney and New Zealand.

Mr Swanson, spokesman for the Overseas Shipping Association, stated to-day that he placed little faith in the report that the strike would be suspended till after Christmas. Information from shipping companies’ officers, who attended the morning pickup was that the men had received definite instructions not to work overtime, and as this was one of the shipowners’ stipulations, no wharf labourers offered their services.

COMMONWEALTH LINE NOT AFFECTED, SAYS CLARKSON.

(Received November 30 at 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 30. Sir William Clarkson, of the Commonwealth Shipping Board, said to-day that the main bone of contention was the afternoon pickup. That question did not concern the Commonwealth Line, as it did not require an afternoon pickup, and because the Line was not affected, it had stood clear of the Shipowners’ Association in the matter. HOBART MEN DECLINE OWNERS’ TERMS. (Received November 30 at 11 p.m.) HOBART', November 30. Failing to give the undertaking required by the shipowners at the pickup this morning, no waterside workers Were engaged, and the loading and unloading of vessels ceased. Among the ships affected is the Kairanga, loading for New Zealand. NO LABOUR OFFERED AT BRISBANE. BRISBANE, November 30. Not a single wharf labourer offered his services under the shipowners’ stipulations, at this morning’s pickup.