BAN ON OVERTIME

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

BAN ON OVERTIME

Employers’ Charge Against Union Members WAGE CLAIM DISMISSED Rec. 9.30 p.m. SYDNEY, May 9. Basic wage claims by six metal trades unions were dismissed today from the £lO a week basic wage case by a majority decision of the Full Bench of the Federal Arbitration Court. The decision was made on an application by the employers because union members had banned overtime. In the judgment, Chief Judge Kelly said it was the business of eVery union to defend its existence as a registered organisation from subversive indiscipline of members who themselves ignored their membership obligations. Mr Justice Dunphy said the six unions seemed unwilling to handle the situation where a handful of defiant unionists were imperilling the rights and possible benefits of many thousands of fellow-unionists. The bodies involved are the Amalgamated Engineering Union, the Australian Society of Engineers, the Blacksmiths’ Society, the Boilermakers’ Society, the Federated Ironworkers’ Association and the Sheet Metal Workers’ Union. The total membership of the six unions is about 200,900. The employers claimed that members of these unions had applied overtime bans at 12 Sydney factories. Strong reaction in the industry is expected.