LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 55

LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

BIG UPHEAVAL IN SIGHT. SYDNEY, May 2. A 3 regards the 44-hours’ week trouble * big industrial upheaval appears certain, the men in the affected unions having yesterday thrown down the gauntlet. By failing to present themselves at work despite the employers’ decision to dismiss them if they failed to work on Saturday, they will have to face the consequences. The employers decline to discuss their plans beyond stating that they are fully determined to put their decision into operation when the men, in accordance with instructions from the union secretaries, report for duty on Monday morning. A number of other unions under Federal awards are not so far affected, but they are likely to become involved, and, directly and indirectly, the outlook is very serious. Meetings of a number of unions yesterday and to-day endorsed the action of the men. STATEMENT BY MR BRUQE. MELBOURNE, May 2Referring to the industrial trouble, Mr Bruce has announced that early in the coming Federal session legislation will be introduced to reconstitute the Federal Arbitration Court, giving it full judicial power. Provision will be made to enable the question of a uniform working week to be dealt with. Mr Bruce added that the court should be ready to start an inquiry as soon as the parties were ready, and he trusted that no harmful action would be taken in the meantime. POSITION IN IRON TRADES. SYDNEY, May 2. The conflict between the employers and the unions in the iron trades over the 48 hours’ week and the Federal awards began to-day. It is estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 employees in the engineering shops of the State will be rendered idle to-mor-row if the employers carry into effect their decision to discharge employees who refuse to work 48 hours. COALFIELD ENGINE-DRIVERS. SYDNEY, April 30. Mr Gibson (secretary of the Enginedrivers and Firemen’s Association) states Slat although negotiations have not been reopened he is hopeful that the coal dispute will be amicable settled before the expiry of the association's ultimatum to the owners on May 8. He described as futile Mr Justice Hibble’s suggestion that the association should try to settle the trouble by constitutional means. “For over six years,’’ cays Mr Gibson, “our members nave followed constitutional methods, and those methods have unfortunately landed our members in the position that we find ourselves in to-day. The position is that while, in the metalliferous industries highly-skilled craftsmen —namely, winding engine-drivers—are paid .from 33 to 50 per cent, above the labourers rate, in the coal mining industry, they Teceive only 16£ per cent. more. These are the Australian rates. In European countries the winding engine-drivers receive double the rates paid to labourers. In reply to a question, the Premier (Mr Lang) said he had every confidence tliat the matter would be settled in the course cf the next few days. COAL INDUSTRY DISPUTE. SYDNEY. April 29. The compulsory Coal Conference, called bv the chairman of the Coal Tribunal, was continued yesterday in camera, but without reaching finality. There was an adjournment sine die. As a result of the adjournment stoppages at collieries throughout New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, appear to be inevitable when the ultimatum expires on May 8. Besides throwing idle 1200 engine-drivers, the stoppages will involve about 30,000 miners and operatives. The cause of the breakdown of the conference was the claim by the employees for the restoration of certain marginal differences which were lost under the Hibble award. The men de manded that the owners should grant the margins to them. The owners refused, but stated that they were prepared tc allow the matter, to go before a special tribunal. The men’s representatives refused this offer. Mr Hibble, in a statement at the conclusion of the conference, emphasised that the award did not in one single instance reduce wages or lower Conditions. On the contrary, the owners had given substantial increases of Is to Is 6d daily, besides in many respects improving the working conditions. It was true that the full marginal differences between the base rates and the higher-paid men had not been maintained, as in the circumstances it had been found impossible to do so. He warned the engine-drivers that their contemplated action was quite illegal, notwithstanding the fact that 14 days’ notice had been given. The notices should be withdrawn and proper constitutional measures relied upon. THE BASIC WAGE. MELBOURNE, May 1. According to figures compiled by the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, based on the retail prices of food, groceries, and rent, for the quarter ended March 31 increases in the basic wage will take effect in all States from today. The increases vary from 4* per week in Perth to Is at Adelaide and Melbourne. The basic wage now varies from 13s Id daily and £4 Is 6d weekly at Perth to 14s 7d and £4 11a 6d st Sydney, where the increase was 2s per week.