WORK REFUSED

Southland Times, Issue 20463, 16 April 1928, Page 7

WORK REFUSED

COOKS AND FIREMEN

AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING DISPUTE

FIVE VESSELS TIED UP (United Press Assn—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Sydney, April 14. When the Australian United Steam Navigation Company’s steamer Marooba was due to sail for Melbourne it was found that nine firemen were missing. Efforts to fill the vacancies were unavailing and the remainder of the crew were paid off and the vessel tied up. The cooks have refused to man the Huddart, Parker Company’s Werribee until the Ulimaroa dispute has been settled. The company has now four ships tied up. The Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association has received a letter signed by Jacob Johnson, general secretary of the Seamen’s Union, which they accept as the prelude to a big upheavel on the whole of the waterfront in Australia. The letter accuses the owners of being hypercritical in their attitude towards continuing the conference which met last October to discuss the new log presented by the seamen. It adds that the whole matter will be placed before the members of the union who will then be able to determine the policy necessary to bring about improved working conditions which are long overdue. The owners stated that they agreed to the resumption of the conference, and the only condition was that peace should be maintained and mob control tactics eliminated.—Australian Press Association.

CAUSE OF TROUBLE. UNEMPLOYMENT ON WATERFRONT. ADDITIONAL COOKS DEMANDED. Melbourne, April 14. The chairman of directors of the Hud dart, Parker Company states that the matter of the cooks’ vendetta against the company will probably be ventilated before the Arbitration Court.

A representative of the shipowners, referring to the trouble, said the cause was unemployment on the waterfront. The Cooks’ Union had many members out of employment and it was in the endeavour to reduce idleness that the union suddenly demanded an increase in the galley staff.

It is rumoured that the union would, if necessary, adopt a more militant attitude and threaten to hold -up all colliers should the owners not comply with its demands for an additional cook for each vessel.

The secretary of the Marine Cooks’ Union denies that the union refused to supply cooks for the Werribee. He said he did not know why the men would not respond to the call. He added that there was no connection between the trouble in Sydney and the Werribee.—Australian Press Association.