INDUSTRIAL UPHEAVAL THREATENS AUSTRALIA

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 88, 5 July 1927, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL UPHEAVAL THREATENS AUSTRALIA

PIECE-WORK TROUBLE UNIONS HOSTILE By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright SYDNEY, Monday. CERIOUS dissatisfaction has been caused in the engineering and metal trades unions by Mr. Justice Beeby’s recent award. Members of these unions say they will not have piece-work on any consideration. The indications are that a grave industrial upheaval is pending if the court’s decision legalising piece-work is enforced. —A. and N.Z. A cablegram from Sydney published on Saturday stated: The Federal Arbitration Court has delivered an award, which will -operate for six months from July 17. covering the engineering and blacksmithing trade in all States with the exception of Queensland and Western Australia. A number of employers, including the Railway Commissioners in South Aus-

tralia, Victoria and Tasmania, are exempted from the operation of the award, under special provision.

The award provides for the adoption of piecework and fixes the hours of work at 44 a week, to be paid for at the same rates as for a 48-hours week.

In delivering judgment, Mr. Justice Beoby, referring to the question of payment by results, said that if employees approached the question reasonably they would have help to increase production and do something to compensate for the increased cost of the 44-hours week, Therefore, he had introduced a clause in the award which would permit contracts for other than ordinary wages, and he had provided in the award that individual employers could choose either a daily or a weekly system of hiring labour. Yesterday a message from Sydney said. Union officials strongly oppose Mr. Jus,tic* Beeby’s provision for Pteeew°ik. One union organiser said the award, instead of preserving harmony, would have the effect of a bombshell on industij.

MR. PIDDINGTON IS RECALLED TO DUTY

HONOLULU TRIP OFF In response to an urgent cable message from Australia, Mr. A. B. Piddington, K.C., Industrial Commissioner for New Soutb "Wales, left the Aorangi last night and proceeded to Wellington on his way home. He was t. have gone on to Honolulu by the Aorangi to-day to attend the second conference of the Institute of Pacific Relations.

Mr. Piddington went to Wellington last evening by t~ Limited and will sail from Wellington to-day by the Tahiti. He will be missed from the conference as he is one of the foremost authorities in Australia on labour questions.