STRIKE IN AIR IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17836, 3 May 1926, Page 15

STRIKE IN AIR IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

40,000 ENGINEERS WILL COME OUT TO-DAY UNLESS SETTLEMENT EFFECTED. By Telegraph.—Pre.ss Assn.—Copyright. Aus. and X.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY. May 2. The conflict between the employers and the unions in the iron trades over the forty-eight hour week and the Federal awards began to-day. It is estimated that 500 engineering workshops in the State, employing 20,000 men. wiil be thrown idle and the whole of the men concerned dismissed.

At the Clyde works, SOO engineers, boiler makers, ironworkers and moulders absented themselves, but the members of the engine drivers’ and firemen’s, unions turned up ready to work on the forty-eight hours basis. It is estimated that between 30,000 and 10,000 employees in the engineering shops of the State will be rendered idle to-morrow if the employers carry into effect their decision to discharge employees who refuse to work forty-eight hours.

The outlook in connection with the threatened miners’ strike is regarded as more hopeful as the outcome of negotiations between Mr Bruce and the Federated Knginedrivers’ Association. It is understood that the association offered to submit the dispute to arbitration and withdraw the notices to cease work next Friday, provided the chairman of such tribunal is independent of the officials connected with the present coal control tribunal. It is further understood that Mr Bruce promised favourable consideration of the proposal, but definite, confirmation is not obtainable. As regards the forty-four hour trouble, a big industrial upheaval appears to be certain, the men in the affected unions having yesterday thrown down the gauntlet by failing to present themselves for work, despite the employers’ decision to dismiss them if they failed tc work on Saturday-. They will have to face the consequences. The employers decline to discuss their plans beyond stating that they are fully determined to put their decision into operation when the men in accordance with instructions from the union secretaries, report for duty on Monday morning. A number of other unions under the Federal awards not so far affected are likely to become, involved and, directly and indirectly, the outlook is very serious. Meetings of a number of unions yesterday and to-day endorsed the action of the men. To-morrow morning the officials of all the unions registered under the Federal awards meet to consider the position as it then stands and important developments are likely to result from the gathering.