10,000 MEN IDLE

Grey River Argus, 17 May 1946, Page 5

10,000 MEN IDLE

AT AUSTRALIAN PORTS Negotiations in Progress (Rec. 8.45.) May 16. A confusing situation developed to-day due to conflicting statements, about the waterfront dispute over double damped wool bales which is paralysing shipping in the main Australian ports. In Canberra it was stated, authoritatively, that the Government intended to issue an order banning the double dumping of wool on a specified date. This would meet the union demands, and' would presumably' end the strike. _ _ Some newspapers anticipated this ban and they claimed in noon editions that the strike was over. In Sydney, however, the Minister of Supply and Shipping, Senator Ashley, pointed out that the Stevedoring Industry Commission, which is sitting at his order to seek a solution of the problem, only commenced' its conference at noon. Ten thousand waterside workers are involved in the strike, which 1“ now in the eleventh day. Senator Ashley stated this afternoon that the Canberra report as to a ban on double dumping was incorrect and was without foundation, and’pointed out that the report prejudiced the success of the negotiations. . „„ The report had’ stated that an order banning double dumping, as from a certain date, would be conveyed to the Waterside Workers Federation to-day, and that it would come from the Commonwealth Wool Authorities, who are under the control of the Minister of Commerce, Hon. Mr. Scully. . The Stevedoring Commission mer at noon to commerce the discussions. At that time newspaper posters were proclaiming the end of the strike. In the meantime the Waterside Workers’ Federation served a new demand on the Commission, namely, that unless morning and afternoon shifts were fixed by Juno 1, the men would not work between midnight and seven a.m. The waterfront strike has now completely immobilised 95 ships. The wage loss to the strikers is estimated at £lOO,OOO a week. Only two ships were worked in Sydney yesterday, both by service personnel. A special article in the Sydney Morning Herald this morning states: “The tie-up on the waterfront has not been brought about by the rank and fde of the wharf labourers. It is a fight picked by the Comm-mist Party. It is being run by Communists who are bossing the Waterside Workers’ Federation, and it is against the wishes of most of the men. The dispute is supposed to be over the double dumping of wool, but the men actually working the wool have never been given a chance of giving their views. The writer is vouched for by the Herald as a waterside worker and a member of the federation for over 18 years.

The Waterside Workers’ Federation ordered its members to stop handling perishable goods at all ports affected by the dispute. This means that the Brisbane watersiders who unloaded the fruit cargo of the Murada, and yesterd'ay began to deal with potatoes aboard the Macedon, must stop work. Unsuccessful calls were made to, unload three ships from Tasmania which are carrying potatoes, apples, and pears.

The first indications that the cancellations of colliers running between Sydney and Newcastle might be used as a threat by the strikers appeared last night, when union officials said' they were afraid that if the dispute were not ended soon it would spread to other industries and that the colliers might be involveq This would leave Sydney without gas or electric power within three days nt the present low state of the reserves