EVILS OF STRIKES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26197, 6 July 1946, Page 7

EVILS OF STRIKES

A BOOMERANG EFFECT OTHER WORKERS PAID OFF (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 5. After a noisy debate which at times became out of hand the New South Wales Trades and Labour Council last night carried a resolution that no union or group should declare a job “ black ” without the concurrence of other unions likely to be involved, and of the council itself. Non-Com-munist speakers said the resolution was intended to stamp out irresponsible strikes, of which they alleged many had been called recently by Communist unions to the disadvantage of other workers.

During the debate Mr E. Thornton, of the Ironworkers’ Union, shouted, “ You skunk! ” to a delegate from the Australian Workers’ Union, who angrily walked towards him until intercepted by other delegates. The effect of the decision is to outlaw the “ sniping ” methods introduced oy the Ironworkers’ Union. The text of the resolution is: “Realising that only by united action by the whole trade union movement working in harmony can any real progress be made in improving the workers’ living standards and in view of the tactics being introduced by certain unions and unionists in withdrawing from jobs or undertakings and declaring or leaving the impression that such jobs or undertakings are ‘ black,’ the Labour Council declares that no individual union can withdraw its members from any job or undertaking or declare such job ‘ black ’ where other unions are involved or likely to be involved. We declare that before any job can be declared ‘black' by individual unions of job committees the concurrence of other unions involved or likely to be involved and of the Mew South Wales Labour Council must oe obtained, and further that whenever any job is declared ‘black’ the men involved shall not seek or accept employment elsewhere during the currency of such dispute without the sanction of the Labour Council, and that any worker who fails to observe this declaration is violating the principles of unionism.”