No End To Sydney Ship Dispute

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1947, Page 5

No End To Sydney Ship Dispute

(Rec. 1.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The overtime dispute which has laid over 70 ships idle in Sydney shows no sign of settlement. The president of the Sydney branch of the Waterside Workers’ Federation (Mr W. Coghlan) said that the next move rested with the Stevedoring Industry Commission. The assistant-general secretary of the federation (Mr E. Roach) stated that the dispute was purely a matter for the Sydney branch. He would not comment on a suggestion that the Federal council might interfere.

Meanwhile, a sugar and potato famine threatens Sydney. Most grocers are already rationing sugar as housewives rush to use up all available coupons. RATES OF PAY Though three of five British ships which were held up in Fremantle have now sailed, British seamen in Melbourne are refusing to take three other ships to sea as a protest against the new pay rates, which will operate next month. The Samcrest and Pipiriki should have sailed on Saturday and the Eeechwood yesterday. The seamen held a meeting late yesterday and were told by representatives of the crews of five other ships that these vessels would also be involved unless an assurance was received from the National Union of Seamen that present wage rates would net be reduced. These ships, whose crews ate prepared to join the others when loading is finished, are the Empire Star, Fort Latour. Empire Cowdrav, Cressington Court and Priam.