STRIKE CONTINUED

Otago Daily Times, Volume 25193, Issue 25193, 6 April 1943, Page 3

STRIKE CONTINUED

SYDNEY WATERSIDE WORKERS LEADERS’ PLEAS IGNORED (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) „ SYDNEY, Apl. 5. By a majority of 200 votes, a mass meeting of nearly 4000 Sydney waterside workers decided to persist in their refusal to work under the gang system. Pleas by union leaders and other State branches for resumption of work were disregarded.» The original decision in favour of striking, made at a mass meeting of 2000 waterside workers on March 28, was almost unanimous. _ The gang system, already in operation in other States, was introduced in Sydney a week ago by the Stevedoring Industry Commission. Since then the waterside workers have refused to work, and the ships have been worked by the army. Under the gang system, men are picked up in gangs of about 20. Gangs may be moved from one job to another as needed, thus eliminating delays in handling cargoes. Under the old system individual men were picked for particular jobs. Meanwhile about 3000 soldiers have been unloading ships and despatching supplies for the battle zones. The union leaders who advised the men to return to work described the strike as “ rotten.” They fear that serious extensions of the strike may occur.