AWARD REJECTED

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 299, 4 December 1935, Page 7

AWARD REJECTED

COMPLETE DISLOCATION Many Thousands Involved TRAVELLERS HELD UP By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright SYDNEY, Dec. 3 A general strike with complete dislocation of Australian shipping has begun. Mass meetings of seamen at Sydney and Melbourne to-day overwhelmingly rejected the new award. Sydney seamen heavily defeated a motion by the general secretary, Mr. Jacob Johnson, that the award should be accepted pending the holding of a plebiscite for acceptance or rejection of the award. Over 1000 men attended the stop-work meeting in the basement of the Sydney Town Hall, and the discussion at times was extremely acrimonious. ■- r

The resolution described the Court's award as a “vicious attack on the conditions of the men,” instructed all members of the union to give 24 hours’ notice, and expressed the willingness of the union to negotiate direct with the shipowners on the basis of the old award for a shorter working week and upon the improvements contained in the new award.

Officials anxious for peace Impressed on the men that the new award had many advantages not hitherto enjoyed, but they were repeatedly howled down. Fears are now expressed that waterside workers, whose award is due for revision, may join the seamen. The Niagara, which arrived yesterday, made a call for wharf labourers to-day but no men responded. BIG MAJORITY FOR STRIKE. At Melbourne, after nearly a twohours discussion, the Melbourne branch of the Seamen's Union passed a resolution rejecting the new award and directing every member of the union on ships in port immediately to give 24 hours’ notice, the members of all other ships to do likewise when they reach their home port. About 250 were present and the resolution was carried by an overwhelming majority despite vigorous opposition by the Federal president, Mr W. Clarke. The Melbourne decision means that Tasmania will become isolated except for a one-day-a-week service being provided by oversea liners under the recent amendment in the Navigation Act. A stop-work meeting of the South Australian branch of the Seamen's Union, at Adelaide, decided to repudiate the recent award and support whatever action is taken in Sydney. Brisbane seamen decided to recommend an immediate application to the Commonwealth Arbitration Court for Variation of the new award with respect io the obnoxious clauses, but retaining the monetary clauses, which are an improvement on past awards. SERIOUS INCONVENIENCE. Among the passenger ships listed to tail this afternoon from Sydney but whose departure is now indefinite are: The Wanganella for Auckland; Canberra for Melbourne, and Adelaide and Manunda for Cairns and intermediate ports. : Hundreds of passengers will have to find other means of transport, involving serious inconvenience and loss of time and money. Should the dispute cover the 106 vessels engaged in the coastal trade It is estimated that 4000 seamen in addition to thousands of wharf labourers, stewards, tally clerks and carters will be rendered idle. Shipping companies report that at least 5000 persons are booked for pleasure cruises and coastal trips between now and January. The Taiping, sailing to-day, received U permit to carry passengers to Melbourne.

The Niagara has been moved from ler ordinary berth to Cockatoo dock with lie. cargo still aboard.