Seamen Give in

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 43, 21 February 1936, Page 7

Seamen Give in

Inglorious End to Shipping Strike KUSH TO SECURE REMAINING JOES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.*—Copyright. Received Thursday, 9.50 p.m. SYDNEY, Eeb. 20. After one of the stormiest meetings of the union held in the past three months more than 3000 Sydney seamen by a two to one ma- ■ jority to-day decided to resunib work. An immediate rush by men anxious to secure licenses follow- . ed. It is stated that the returning strikers will be re-employed on equal terms with the volunteers. Addressing the meeting, Mr Keenan (secretary and strike leader) said because of the “sabotage tactics” employed by other unions and the failure of those who should have assisted to give moral support, the strike -had been defeated. It was futile to carry ra in the face of the position created. ‘‘Johnson (the dethroned secretary) toul us that in the beginning, >4 and he got booted out. What about it now?” was the cry from sections in the hall. The motion ultimately passed, in addition to recommending a return to work, expressed confidence m the leadership of Keenan and the strike committee. Mr Keenan stressed . the necessity of getting back to work as an organised body. Keenan Wrecked Seamen’s Union MELBOURNE SECRETARY’S BITTER ATTACK Received Friday, 2 a.m, MELBOURNE, Feb. 21. A meeting of the Seamen’s Union by an overwhelming majority decided to return to work. The discussion was definitely acrimonious. The local secretary, Mr W. J. Clark, said the Sydney proposal was an indication of the confidence tricks used by the strike committee to smother its mistakes. He still refused to recognise Mr. Keenan as the general secretary, and claimed that Keenan had wrecked the Seamen’s Union.