THE RAND MINERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19277, 15 September 1924, Page 7

THE RAND MINERS

INCREASED WAGES SOUGHT,

CAPETOWN, August 29. Tho general council of the South African Mine Workers’ Union in Johannesburg has passed two most important resolutions. One deals with the giving of non-union men certain time in which to join the union. The other favours the appointment of a committee of four to formulate demands to tho Chamber of Mines. Inquiries in union circles showed that the giving of non-union men until the end of September to join the union is regarded simply as a normal development of the trade union position since tho 1922 strike. The statement is also made that ott.er unions on the Rand are moving on similar lines to those being taken by the minors. Since the setback the minors’ union received during the strike, the work of reorganisation has steadily progressed, and the union is now in a sounder position. With regard to the second resolution, it is understood that the demands include an increase of wages by 20 per cent, on tho ground that the cost of living has increased by 30 per cent. It is interesting to hear that the opinion expressed to-day by the miners’ union along with other Rand unions is that it it is attached to the principle of sane trade unionism and proposes to pursue a moderate policy. It will take no extreme action unless forced to do so.