N.S.W. RAIL CO. OFFICIALS STRIKE TO UPHOLD SENIORITY RULE

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1949, Page 5

N.S.W. RAIL CO. OFFICIALS STRIKE TO UPHOLD SENIORITY RULE

SYDNEY, Feb. 23

As a result of a 48-hour strike begun at midnight last night by the salaried officers of the South Maitland Railway Company no trains will run to the largest gas coal producing area in Ne'w South Wales. The dispute, which is between the Salaried Officers’ Association and the company, concerns the appointment, of a stationmaster at Cessnock. Coal from Cessnock. Abermain, and Kurri is transported over the company’s line to East Greta Junction, where the trains are taken over by Government locomotives. The normal daily production is 12,500 tons, and the normal traffic is about 52 trains daily.. The association claims that one of its members was hy-passed in . the Cessnock appointment because the company failed to observe the seniority rule. Tn Sydney last Monday, Mr Justice Webb ruled that, the company had observed the award, and ordered the association to call off the strike. The man stated his case before the employers yesterday, but was turned down ’The association now threatens to continue the strike indefinitely un- , til this decision is reversed.