NATION-WIDE STOPPAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27385, 10 May 1950, Page 7

NATION-WIDE STOPPAGE

Protest By Unions Against Anti-Communist Bill . SYDNEY WATERSIDERS’ DEMAND New Zealand Press Association—Copyright Rec. 9.15 p.m. • SYDNEY, May 9. At an unauthorised stop-work meeting today Sydney watersiders decided to call on the Congress of the Australian Council of Trade Unions to organise a nation-wide stoppage of unions as a protest against the Federal Government’s Communist Party Dissolution Bill. An amendment sponsored by Labour Party supporters that the meeting declare its opposition to the Bill but take no action until a lead was given by the council was overwhelmingly defeated. About 4000 of Sydney’s 7000 watersiders attended the meeting but only a handful of men reported for work. As a result over 60 ships were idle today.

The stop-work meeting was called by the Communist-controlled executive of the Sydney branch of the Waterside Workers’ Federation. The watersiders’ executive ignored a warning by Mr Justice Kirby, of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court, against holding the meeting. The men who did not report for duty this morning have been reported to the local representative of the Stevedoring Industry Board, Mr B. McKay. For previous stoppages men have been suspended for up to three days. If this action is taken again the port will be idle for the rest of the week.