LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 3765, 11 May 1926, Page 54

LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

FORTY-FOUR HOUR WEEK. SYDNEY, May 5. A conference between the Labour Council and the metal trades employers’ representatives, after lengthily discussing the 44-hours’ week difficulty, failed to reach any agreement. The Labour Council asked the employers to work federal unionists for 44 hours for 44 hours’ pay, undertaking to ask the unions if they would accept whatever new Federal awards might, be issued. The employers considered the proposal, and announced th.at they intended to maintain the attitude already adopted—that the Federal awards must be observed in their entirety They declared that if the unions were sincere in their intention to uphold recognised authority they should immediately instruct their members to up hold the existing Federal awards until any alterations were made by the Federal Arbitration Court. The proceedings were friendly on both sides. After the conference Mr Carden (secretary of the Disputes Committee) said the unions had explored every channel in the hope of finding a compromise, but the employers were adamant. As they wanted fight they would get it. The men were determined not to go back to a 48-hours’ week or to do Saturday work. LABOUR IN OTHER STATES. SYDNEY, May 5 The Trades Council is receiving wires from various trade bodies in other States sympathising with it and supporting it in its 44-hour*s week fight. UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASING. SYDNEY, May 6 The announcement made by Mr Baddeley that the Government would see that the wives and families of the strikers did not starve has been received with jubila tion in union circles. In many cases indi vidual unions have made provision for strike pay. Tile number of names on the out-of-work books is increasing daily. The Labour Council lias taken charge of the strike on behalf of the unions Several offers of financial assistance has been received from other States. The extremists, who have been taking part in the strike, are said to be endeavouring to inaugurate irritation tactics as a protest against the action of the emp’ vers. Their desire is that the unionists engaged in as many industries as nos sible should adopt pinprick measures and should take generally any retaliatory measures open to them. A REQUEST REFUSED. MELBOURNE, May 7 Following the action of Sir John Quick, the other judges of the Federal Arbitration Court have refused to send to the Full Court applications for the variation of awards from 48 to 44 hours per week. SYMPATHY WITH BRITISH STRIKERS. SYDNEY. May 9. In connection with the 44-hour week trouble, a big mass meeting of metal trades employees resolved to continue the fight and that no new fillips be worked ,-spnd no overtime worked till the 44-hour principle has been conceded, The meeting decided to accord moral and financial support to the British strikers. THE COAL TROUBLE. SYDNEY, May 8 Between 7 and 8 o’clock this morning all the mines throughout New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania were thrown idle owiug to the engine-drivers and firemen’s dispute over wages About 1000 engine-drivers and firemen are directly concerned, and an additional -0,000 to 30,000 miners were forced into idleness. Mr J. M. Baddelev (Minister of Labour) has suggested that Mr A B. Piddington (the Industrial Comimssioner) should act as arbitrator. The parties will consider cuis prop<*al during the week end The miners generally are opposed to the action of the engine-drivers, holding that the time is not opportune foi a strike, ihe relief funds are in an exhausted condition ; consequently if the men are idle for any length of time tliev will suffer much hardship. SYDNEY. May 9 The mining engineers 14 day’s notice expired this morning, and in accordance therewith they ceased work, putting everything in order before they left the pits The engineers’ action threw the miners idle and work at practically all the collieries throughout New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania is at a standstill. As Saturday is an off day the New South Wales and Southern District miners proprietors will not know what the miners intend till Mondav, but it is accepted as a fore gone conclusion that they will fall into line. Reports from local districts show that the men took the position philosophically and everything is quiet. It is understood that a possible hope of settlement of the mining trouble is that Mr Baddeley’s suggestion to appoint Mr Piddington. Industrial Commissioner, to hold an inquiry at which each side will have three representatives sitting with hm, finds considerable favour. The men’s side declare that they are willing to he represented at a conference with an independent chairman. In the meantime the fans are being kept going and no horses have been withdrawn from the pits.

Optimists express the opinion that they will be working again early next week. The engineers, however, appear determined to secure the demand for which thev struck— namely, the wage margin for skill which waa lost under the award of Mr Hibble, chairman of tho Coal Tribunal.