HOLD-UP WITHIN A WEEK

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12185, 9 July 1925, Page 8

HOLD-UP WITHIN A WEEK

ALL INTER-STATE SHIPP SG OWNERS WILL NOT NEGOTIATE AGREEMENT REJECTED By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright (Received July 8, 9.10 p.m.) SYDNEY. July 8. The Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association states that it is of opinion that no good purpose will be served by jneeting the Sydney union’s delegation, as the association will not accept the agreement entered into by the Commonwealth Lino. The association, however. will meet the delegation as a matter of courtesy. It is vh'e general opinion in Victorian shipping circles that there will be a complete ho'd-up of all interstate shipping within the next six days. A mass meeting of the Victorian seamen, in Melbourne, endorsed the resolution carried by the Sydney branch union tq tie up all inter-State vessels on July 14th, and also resolved that every effort should be made to harass the Government, should it attempt to deport any unionist. In' Brisbane, a mass meeting of seamen endorsed the Sydney branches’ decision to give notice at Home ports on •the 14th. PROSPECT BETTER IN SYDNEY (Received July 9, 1.5 a.m.) The marine transport group carried two important resolutions as the result of which the shipping deadlock 'took a less serious aspect. The resolution decided that tne Commonwealth ‘ steamers, Dilga and Eromanga, which have been “black” for some time, are to be declared “white.” This was followed by a conference with the Premier, Air Lang. At a later meeting the group decided to declare the North Coast Company’s steamer Hunter “white.” This steamer having previously been declared “black” was the cause of the men refusing to work her. The Morts dock will probably * be open again in the course of a few days. With these matters settled, the dispute locally resolves itself into a battle between the Seamen’s Federation and inter-State companies. The Seamen’s Union notified the owners of inter-State vessels that they require a reply by July 14th. whether the disputed clause w’ill be inserted in the articles by that date, when the men intend holding a stop-work meeting to consider the replies. _ By that time other ships, however, will be involved as it is the present intention of the Union for home port men to give notice on all inter-State vessels arriving in port after July 10th. This will have the effect of tying up each steamer in turn as no response will he made to a call for men to take their places. SUMMARY OF DISPUTE The history and present position of the shipping dispute may be summarised as follows: The Seamen's Union was de-register-ed by the Arbitration Court, and the award under which its members worked was cancelled. In consequence the union demanded that as new articles are signed in ships, a clause shall be inserted guaranteeing the maintenance of the wages and conditions obtaining under the award. Tins guarantee was refused by the Steamship Owners’ Association, and by the Commonwealth Line, but the two other companies—Burns, Philp and Co., and the Patrick Company—are believed, to have granted it. On July Ist the Seamen’s Union at Sydney decided that, unless the guarantee’ clause demands were conceded as each vessel arrives at its home port in the Commonwealth, the men would give 14 days’ notice to cease work. The reason the seamen decided to give 14 days’ notice is (it is reported) that if each of the crews waited until their articles expired before entering the struggle one section of the workers would be out ot employment for a considerable period before the shipowners were submitted to sufficiently strong pressure to cause them to review the position. The New South Wales Premier then intervened, and secured an agreement between the shipping unions and the Commonwealth Line. This agreement the Owners’ Association will not acoept-. _ .. , The principal aim of the Owners Association is declared to be the abolition of “job control.”