SEAMEN GOING BACK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 13 January 1928, Page 5

SEAMEN GOING BACK

DECISION AT MEETING

SYDNEY, 12th Jan. When the crew of the Adelaide Company's steamer 'Momba learned that the company was transferring cargo irom the Ornriston to the Momba, they gave notice and the vessel was added to the idle list.

A meeting of the Seamen's Union was held to consider the situation and decided to man all ships pending a conference with the inter-State owners, when the log would be discussed. The meeting was very stormy, a lmge section of the men demanding a polongation of the dispute and the implication of all shipping. Following on the seamen s meeting the crew of the Momba withdrew their notices. , It is expected that the seamen s decision will be merely a preliminary to a general resumption of work on all strike-affected vessels.

TERMS OF RESUMPTION

A MISUNDERSTANDING

(Received 13th January, 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Soon after the seamen reached a decision to man all ships, the crews of the Momba and Orungal who yesterday left the vessels, returned and signified their intention to remain at work. It is believed that there will be a general resumption. ' According to statements made by Mr Dillon, bocretary of the Commonwealth Steamship Owners' Federation, and Mr Johnson, secretary of the Seamen's Union, there is a misunderstanding ot the terms on which work will be resumed. The ultimatum from the association was received "by the union officials almost simultaneously with the decision to resume work, and it is generally considered that had the ultimatum been received earlier and presented to members of the union a different decision might have been reached. j Mr Dillon said that the seamen capitulated unconditionally. All loggings originally imposed will He enforced, hence the men who attended the stopwork meeting on 28th December will be logged for two days' pay and the amount they would have been paid had they noT attended the meeting, will also be deducted.

The owners' previously expressed •willingness to compromise and deduct only half, a day's'pay if the seamen resumed immediately) but this was not done, with the result that they forfeited the right of benefit of the owners' concession. •Mr Johnson said that the seamen were going back to work on the understanding that the owners' early offer to cancel the loggings, held good.