RETURNING TO WORK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 9

RETURNING TO WORK

WATERSIDERS’ STRIKE “BOLSHIES” STAND ALOOF ( By Telegraph—Per Aenn. —Copyright ] (Australian Press Assn. —United Service] Received Oct. 5, 10 p.m. ADELAIDE, Oct. 5. Nearly 600 AVaterside Federation members were picked up this morning, but they had to await a supply of free labour before they were engaged. Thc president of thc union, Air Whitfield, was bombarded with complaints. His reply was that thc men left comprised the Bolshevik element. Eight members of the crew of the Huddart Parker steamer Yarra were fined eight days pay at Newcastle for disobeying orders at sea. Air Fleming, secretary of thc New South Wales branch of the Seamen’s Union, declared to-day that the seamen in Australia will not work under any circumstances with non-union labour. He complained that the gaoling of the Fiona seamen at Cairns was a breach of the undertaking given by thc Colonial Sugar Company in order to get thc crew to take thc ship out of Sydney CONFERENCE DECISION MR GARDEN’S MOTION [ Australian Press Assn. 1 AIELBOURNE, Oct. 4. Thc Alaritime Unions’ Conference adopted the report of the sub-commit-tee, which gives power to thc Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions to negotiate tho scheme put forward by thc sub-committec, which will not be put into operation pending negotiations for a settlement. It follows closely in wording and effect the motion tabled by Afr Garden. Thc Reds, led by Air Garden, to-day suggested a two-days’ strike of electricians ami gasworkers, but this proposal, which was moved as an amendment to the sub-committoo’s report, is being vigorously fought by tho moderates. It has been ascertained that thc subcommittee holds that there should be uncompromising hostility to any unionists applying for licenses under thc Transport Act.

Air Garden ’s motion was as follows: “That the conference, realising that the Bruce Government and the shipowners have united their forces to smash all the marine and transport unions, and that the conference, having done all possible to avert an industrial upheaval, has now no alternative but to tight for freedom and liberty, and decides upon thc following policy:—To instruct all workers to refrain from taking out licenses; the formation of councils of action in each State; the organisation of strong picketing squads; no trades unionists to handle any goods handled by free labour; electricians and gasworkers to hold themselves ready to take necessary action at a time and place to be decided by the Australasian Council of Trades Unions; every union in thc Commonwealth to act in conjunction with thc State Council of Action; every union to work as a disciplined force and no sectional or craft action to be engaged in; and, finally, there must be no action, however provocative the action of thc employers, until instructed by tho Australasian Council of Trades Unions.” PRIME MINISTER FIRM WILL NOT REPEAL TRANSPORT ACT I Australian Press Asi»n. 1 MELBOURNE, Oct. 5. Air Bruce definitely declines to repeal the Transport Act. He said that the Alinistry had been informed by the trade union movement that if thc regulations under this Act were not enforced the watersiders would return to work. Thc Alinister, however, could not agree. It was determined to end thc strike on thc waterfront. There would be an election in about six weeks’ time, and if the people felt that any injustice had been done to workers they could remove the Government from thc control of the affairs of thc Commonwealth.