THE SYDNEY STRIKE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8792, 20 April 1907, Page 2

THE SYDNEY STRIKE.

Press Association—Copyright. £ ydnkt, April 19. The trouble in connection with coaling mail steamers and the subsequent action of tho colliery owners and stevedore establishing a bureau, culminated by members of the Coal Lumpers’ Union taking concerted action. 800 engaged for various vessels refusing to work. A' mass meeting of men affected wfta held during the day and resolved that during the present look out no member of the Coal Lumpers’ Union shall engage in employment from any member of the Sydney Coal Owners’ Association as their conditions are contrary to the recent arbitration award; also that no member shall work for any stevedore who employs bureau labour. It was further resolved that if all stevedores and colliery owners outside the Coal Owners’ Asssooiation will give a written guarantee that they will not aid the Association during the look-out, members of the Lumpers Union will work in conjunction with them. Officials of the Lumpers’ Union state there is every desire on tne part of the men to work in accordance with the Arbitration Court award, but they could not be expected to work under unbearable conditions which are not equal to those of other organisations. They also ciaimed that the present action is an attempt to break up the Union. Tie Steam Colliery Owners and Stevedores’Association opened a bureau during the day and posted notice for coal lumpers under** individual agreement, wages Is 6d an hour with full 'pay for “ smoke-ho,” also notifying that all conditions of the award of the Arbitration Court ivill be carried out, the employers

having desire to reduce wages or in any way reduce the status of those employed coal lumping. Large numbers of strikers congregated around the bureau, but beyond occasional jeering and arguments with men seeking employment, there was no demonstration. The" employers claim that men are applying freely for work under the new conditions and they arc sanguine of being able to conduct tho bunker trade of tho port without great loss of time. Both sides appear determined. The strike practically affects all the steamers coaling at Sydney, and will probably drive many vessels to other ports to coal unless there is speedy settlement. Now Zealand and other steamers which coal at Newcastle are not affected. Tho Yorck finished coaling with her own crew, and the Japanese mail steamer is utilising her own crow. The employees state that they secured 200 men through tl o new bureau. It is estimated that tho strikers will lose £2OOO weekly in wages.