BATTLE OF HOURS IN SYDNEY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 3 May 1926, Page 9

BATTLE OF HOURS IN SYDNEY.

Big- Upheaval Threatens,

TENS OK THOUSANDS INVOLVED Mr Cable—Preaa Association —Copyright. Australian arid N.Z. Cable Association (Received May 2, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 2. The conflict between the employers and the union in the iron trades over the 4S-hour week and the Federal awards began to-day. It is estimated that 500 engineering workshops in the State, employing 20,000 men, will he. thrown idle. The whole of the men concerned were dismissed at the Clyde works. Eight hundred engineers, boilermakers, ironworkers and moulders, absented themselves, but the members of the engine-drivers and firemen’s unions turned up ready to work on the 4S-hours" basis. • Forty Thousand Involved. It is estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 employees in the engineering shops of the State will bo endured idle to-m'orrow if the employers carry into effect their decision to discharge the employees who refuse to work 48 hours. COMING OF THE CRISIS.

FORTY-FOUR v. FORTY-EIGHT HOURS. FEDERAL LAW SUPREME. i By Cable—Press Association —Copyright Australian and N.iL Chbla Association. SYDNEY, April 30. Unless the efforts now in progress to secure a compulsory conlerence in connection with the 44-hours trouble prove eifective, it now appears that an upheaval is inevitable. At a meeting to-day representatives of CO New South \\ u.os employers’ Associations approved and decided to support the action of the Aletal Trades Employers m regard to upholding the terms of the Federal awards. This means that they are determined to uphold the Federal 48-hours award, as opposed to the State 44 hours. .Seen after the meeting, the president of the Employers’ Federation declined to disclose what steps were proposed to enforce the decision. Efforts will be continued to-day on tile part of the Unions involved in both Sydney and Melbourne to secure intervention by Air Bruce and Air Lung, with a view to summoning a ccmpu.,sory conference. Mr Bruce, after a lengthy conference with the - Soiicitoi'-General and At-torney-Generals, discussed the position with the secretary of the Alelbourne Trades Hall Council.

So far tliero i.s nothing definite known regarding the negotiations, but developments are expected later. Black Outlook. Air' Myliill, secretary of the Aletal Trades’ Jimp'.overs Association, announced that he lugl been officially informed by Air Pinkerton, the district secretary of the Federated Engine Drivers’ and Firemen's Association, that the Federal Executive of tho Union had decided to instruct members to work 48 hours a-week in the terms of the Federal awards. Air Alinas, State secretary of tho Association, said it should not b e inferred from tliisi decision that, the Association was not in sympathy with the 44-liour week proposal. As a matter of fact, nil application was now before the Federal Arbitration Court for a variation of the Association’s award, to provide for a 44-hour week. ■ Air Garden, commenting on the refusal ot' Air Bruce to convene a conference to discuss, the 44-hour week, said if an upheaval occurred, Air Bruce would have to shoulder Hie responsibility. If could not be said lie had not been given an opportunity to avert an iiidustiial crisis. If.the employers in the metal trades carry out their threat, approximately 40,000 workers, will be out in tho industry. ■ The State Government takes a. serious view of the trouble oil the coalfields. Ministers Fear Trouble. . Alinister.s fear trouble is threatened by the Federal Unions respecting the 44 hours week, and failure may lead to grave consequences. The Minister for.Labour (Air J. AI. Baddelcy), who is in Newcastle, has been urgently .summoned to return to Sydney, in order to be present if any serious development occurs. It is stated in Alinisterial circles that it is doubtful whether the Government could intervene effectively in the disputes, a.s both sides are concerned with Fedora! Unions. Both Sides Determined. The latest development in the 44hours trouble, is that the District Committee of the Amalgamated Engineering Union this afternoon decided to instruct its members to present themselves for work on Alonday morning, despite the notices posted by the employers that unless they worked on .Saturday they would be di.-misf.ed.

'Die Union has 7000 members, 45 pci cent, of whom enjoyed 44 hours under the State award. Several affected Unions are arranging to hold stop-work and _ mass meetings to-morrow and a meeting ol the secretaries of all such Unions is ended for Monday forenoon.

'Tile latest report from Melbourne is a statement by Air Holloway, secretary to the Trades Hall Council,_ that at tbe conclusion or a lengthy interview willi Air. Bruce, with a view to securing bis intervention, the Premier promised consideration of tlie representations made to him. ■ • ■ It is, however, considered unlikely that be will depart from tbe attitude previously adopted—that be has no power to intervene.

'flic position al present stands that if the members of tbe affected Unions carry out flmir decision not to work to-morrow, they will not be, allowed to. resume work on Monday, and wide industrial trouble will be precipitated, wherein probably unaffected Unions will also become involved.

Both sides appear determined to stand their ground.