Strike Settled.

Waipawa Mail, Volume L, Issue 1, 17 September 1928, Page 3

Strike Settled.

WATERSIDERS ACCEPT NEW AWARD. ORDERED TO RESUME WORK. WEEK’S IDLENESS COST A MILLION. (Australian and N.Z. Press Assn.) SYDNEY, September 15. The waterside strike sensationally collapsed, a conference of the Waterside Workers’ Federation in Melbourne deciding by 47 to 22 votes to instruct members in all ports to resume work, under the terms of the new award, on Monday. The decision was only reached after a hot debate, the militants attempting to prolong the strike.

The main factors which decided the men to return were the owners’ determined attitude and the threat to engage free labor. Another cause of the speedy termination of the strike was the shortness of funds of the watersiders to carry on the war. The Queensland delegates to the Melbourne conference refused to accept the ruling of the conference to resume work, stating that they would not recommence except under the old State award. This attitude may prevent resumption of work to-morrow, as the shipowners may insist on the observance of the Beeby award in Queensland prior to resuming work in other ports. Mr Hogan. Premier of Victoria. has arranged a conference with the shipowners to discuss this aspect. The strike, although lasting only a week, cost the country over £1,000,000. MELBOURNE, Sept. 15. Following the decision of the shipowners to engage free labor after Monday if the strike is not settled, a meeting of watersiders decided to return to work al !l ports under the new award. Mr Hogan has called a conference of owners and watersiders to discuss the new award. Work will be resumed at all ports on Monday.