N.S.W. Disputes Now Affecting Other States

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 265, 9 November 1945, Page 5

N.S.W. Disputes Now Affecting Other States

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Thursday, 8.45 p.m. SYDNEY, Nov. 8. The moderates at Trades Hall believe they have the numbers to defeat the militants in a fight which is developing to control the current big steel disputes at Port Kembla and Newcastle. A win by the militants would mean, it is believed, an extension of the current disputes into a general strike for a 40-hour week. The test of strength is expected at the Labour Council meeting to-night. In recent tests the moderates have outvoted the militants. As both sides marshal their resources for the fight, about 21,000 are idle in New South Wales as a result of industrial disputes. The grimmest industrial outlook in years will face Australia by the new year unless the current disputes are settled. Factors responsible for this position are:— Firstly: The tie-up of the steel and heavy industries at Newcastle and Port Kembla, now linked with the 40-hour week fight. Secondly: The extension of the Newcastle dispute to the sea transport of coal, which affects particularly other States dependent on New South Waie coal.

Thirdly: TJie decision of the miners to take ten days’ holiday at Christmas in spite of warnings that the industry will not he able to carry on and the inter-State railway services will suffer. More than 1,500,000 tons of coal has been lost by stoppages in New South Wales this year. The strikers at Port Kembla are now considering Judge Cantor’s decision upholding the dismissal by the Australian Iron and Steel Company of a shop delegate. It was the dismissal of this man that stained the strike. The dispute at the Newcastle steelworks is holding up the despatch of 62,000 tons of coal in nine ships to Victoria and South Australia. Broken Hill Proprietary staff labour was unloading ore from the ships today, but union labour is refusing to scoop the residue of the ore from the ships, which must be done before the coal is loaded. Eleven mines were idle to-day for a coal loss of 9,000 tons. Each day the number of men out of work grows. About 1000 employed at Australian Paper Manufacturers, Ltd., Sydney, have gone on strike in a protest against the dismissal of eight men who refused to load materials consigned to printers’ shops which had been declared “black” by the Labour Council. These firms had been declared “black” because they refused to introduce the 40-hour week with 44 hours’ pay. The strike at the Sydney glassworks has been settled following negotiations between representatives of the employees and the management. All road and rail transport in Adelaide will be suspended for 24 hours from midnight on Sunday in support of the Adelaide tramway strike. This was decided by the disputes committee of the Trades and Labour Council. The decision will have a paralysing effect on South Australian transport. It means that all bus and lorry traffic will cease, cutting off deliveries and the transport of all passengers and goods traffic in the metropolitan area. It will be the biggest stoppage in the history of the State. The tramwaymen’s strike is in its ninth day. The men say they will not go hack until a conference is held with the Tramways Trust, and the trust refuses to confer until the men go back. The Commonwealth Coal Commissioner (Mr. Mighall) said: “Industry obviously will not he able to carry on if the miners take 10 days’ holiday over the Christmas period. In Victoria and South Australia industries already have insufficient coal to keep going.” Mr. Mighall added that it had been reported to him that 30,000 men were already out ot work in Adelaide because of the coal shortage. This had been caused through ships being tied up in* New South Wales. Victoria was receiving only half of its coal requirements and had no coal reserves. Melbourne reported last night that foundries and engineering industries would be dislocated next week unless coal shipments arrived within the next few days.