SYDNEY POWER STRIKE

Grey River Argus, 8 September 1945, Page 4

SYDNEY POWER STRIKE

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DANGER OF SPREADING.

(Rec. 8.40.) SYDNEY, Sept. .7. This morning a complete electricity “black-out” of nearly all bydney suburbs, including the main industrial areas employing thousands of factory workers, occurred. These areas weie, generally, without supply for, one hour. So serious has the position become that the Sydney County Council is sending out an S.O.S. over the national radio stations, appealing to all the consumers to exercise the utmost economy. A spokesman for the Sydney County Council said: We are in a bad spot. The need for maximum economy, has now become, absolutely vital.” The leaders of the strikers union told the New South Wales LabourCouncil that the Bunnerong dispute held the elements of another 1917 strike, and said no graver situation-, had occurred for years. They said one hundred thousand unionists might be thrown out of work. In 1917, a strike started with a strike at Randwick railway workshops and spread throughout the railways into a general strike involving hundreds of thousands of workers in NewSouth Wales and other States. The Labour Council has endorsed the attitude of the Labour leaders, and has directed the men to accept the advice of their Unions, and to .resume work.

The Council directed that the negotiations should continue. Meanwhile, there will be no rationing of electricity before Monday. Then the position will again be reviewed by the State Government. Some of the 150 of the white collar volunteers were expected to obey union orders to cease operating the Bunnerong and Pyrmont power houses, but the majority have declared their determination to remain on duty. They say that they consider it their duty to keep electricity supplies going, particularly as hundreds of thousands of workers and their families are dependent on current for their living. ' Mr. Chifley, the Prime Minister has made no statement, but the impression in Canberra is that the Commonwealth will not intervene in the dispute.