BUTCHERS’ STRIKE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 357, 17 February 1914, Page 5

BUTCHERS’ STRIKE.

UNION OPENS SHOPS.

[ PRESS ASSOCIATION COPY RIGHT. ]

Sydney, Feb. 16. The promised meat supply was not forthcoming. No men arrived at. the Glebe abattoir. They claimed that they had not been regularly notified that there was "work for them. 'Die shops,consequently closed and it is supposed that the cold storage reserves, said to be imagin ary, have mostly been sold to overseas purchasers, and not not available for local consumption. The union proposes to purchase cattle for slaughter and open shops for retail to relieve the public mind. . Mr. Furse alleges that the masters have brought pressure to bear .upon the men with whom the union made arrangemens to slaughter at the Glebe abattoirs. One man stopped after killing two beasts. It was thus seen that a combine of the mas ters is preventing the public from getting meat. The men are willing to slaughter, but t|ie employers won’t let them. -

Three thousand ;at present are affected by , the butchers’ strike. Unless a speedy settlement is made it i&- estimated that 15,000 will be out in two days. Arrangements have been made to aflpply .the hospitals and Government 1 institutions- >’by the Masters’ Association. • . There is a great demand for dairy ’produce and fish, .and in some cases ■prices have advanced. ..

"MELBOURNE ABATTOIRS CLOSED. ,

Melbourne. Feb l . 16.

The slaughtermen at the city abattoirs ceased work to-day. The men refused to clean the pens after killing, and they also refused to do the work. ’ The City Council then intervened and closed , the abattoirs, which affects 1000 nien apd 200 employers.' The city is faced with a meat famine.

THE MASTERS’ SUGGESTIONS.

Sydney, Feb, 16. Three resolutions were submitted to. Mr.. Estell, - Minister for Labour, by the masters: -That in the event of the union men not responding to the Requisition to start work, no attempt to commence killing should be made at present with,free' labour ; that the retail masters should be informed that the. committee arranging for a supply'" of frozen meat to the trade and retail butchei’s must devise the best means of distributing it to the public; that it is desirable that no stock be slaughtered (or • export while the public in Sydney is without supplies. These resolutions were’ conveyed to the meeting of the men.

REJECTED BY THE STRIKERS.

(Revived "17. 9.35 a.m.)Sydney, ;Eeb. 17. A mass meeting of strikers unanimously decided to reject the employers’ proposals made through the Minister of Labour. They, explained that they would have been , prepared to favourably consider Resumption on their own terms, leaving the subsequent decision to the Court. The strike therefore goes on.

A COMPLETE DEADLOCK

UNION BUYERS AT HOMEBUSH

STRIKERS’ ILLEGAL ACTION.

(Received 17, 9.40, a.m.) i t ..Sydney, Feb. 17. The selling agents are offering stocK at Homebush to-day, but as the men have decided to continue the strike, there is small chance of much buying. On behalf, of -the' slaughtermen, the of the Butchers’ Union will attend the sales to bid for the stock, a resolution having been carried .empowering the comifaittee tfius to use the union funds'. An application will be made for slaughtering space at Glebe island, and the general secretary qf . * the Australian Workers’ Union says the Government ought to see that it is granted. The Minister or Public Works informed the union representatives that so long as they break the law by striking, they will net be allowed the use oF the machinery of the Industrial Arbitration Act. They have cases pending against the employers which may be delayed by disqualification of tne union in proportion to the period during which the illegal attitude is maintained by the men.

The employees of the Riverstone meat works will strike in sympathy with Glebe Island men. The position is a deadlock , and nothing can be done until Government takess further action/

COMPULSORY CONFERENCE CONVENED.

Representatives of the Employers’ Committee in an interview with the Minister to-day attempted .to reach a solution and a compulsory, conference has been convened at Melbourne, because of the ; trouble there. Three Sydney executive officers have been summoned to attend.

ELEMENTS OF A BIG CRISIS (deceived 17, 16.10 a.m.)

Sydney, Feb. 17. The officials qf the upicn state that if they succeed in purchasing stock at Homebush to-day and killing space at Glebe Island is granted meat will be available in the metropolitan area to-morrew. If the pro ject is blocked, a regular meat famine is certain through no fault of the men;

A number of unions affiliated with the Labour Council having now directly or indirectly become involved, the council to-night will probably consider, the question of intervention unless a settlement is arrived at within a day or two. The closing of many tanneries, boiling down and kindred works is rendering 1000 men idle. »

Certain of the Newcastle butchers have decided to continue working and afford financial support to the Sydney men. There is a feeling that the position here and at Melbourne, in view of the temper on the two sides, con tains all the elements of a big industrial crisis, which will require the most careful handling to avert. (Received 17, 10.45 a.m.) Sydney, Feb. 17. The master butchers decided that the shops should be closed to-day, but one in each suburb will be opened to-morrow.