STRIKERS’ ANSWER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26708, 1 March 1948, Page 7

STRIKERS’ ANSWER

CALL FOR FURTHER ACTION Rec. 10 p.m. BRISBANE, Feb. 29. The Queensland strikers yesterday threw out a definite challenge to Queensland’s Labour Government. After the Government’s plans to place the police on the alert throughout the State, union leaders are moving for a call to watersiders, seamen, and interstate railwaymen for an all-out strike. This threatening development occurred as an answer to the Government’s proclamation of a state of emergency. It is part of a plan originating with the Amalgamated Engineering Union to halve all Queensland industry by calling out engineers and cutting off the power. The strike, which is now in its twenty-seventh day, began with the Ipswich workshop men’s demands for marginal rates and week-end penalty payments. After a two-hour meeting yesterday, the Disputes Committee decided to flout the Government’s emergency proclamation and order the strikers and stood-down railway men not to report for work to-morrow. Mass meetings of railwaymen at all centres will be held to-morrow. An official statement issued after yesterday’s meeting said: “The Premier, faced with the splendid unity of workers displayed at the mass meeting on Friday, and driven to desperation on the eve of our victory, has resorted to measures which will bring the Labour Government into eternal disgrace. , His Fascist-like emergency measures threaten the whole trade union movement.” The Premier, Mr E. M. Hanlon, in announcing that the Government would assume control of all transport rail, road, sea and air—said if there were not enough men to run a full transport service there would be an immediate call for volunteers. The Federal Government will not mterVe While most big country centres are supporting the Disputes Committee, many hundreds of men are willing to work. One of the biggest railway unions—the Railway Traffic Employees has ordered its members to resume v/ork. Members of the Salaried Officers’ Association have made the same decision. c ..„ The police have made State-wide arrangements to carry out the promise of the Premier that protection will be given to railwaymen who return to work to-morrow.