LEFT WING UNIONS HAVE APPARENTLY FAILED IN AUSTRALIA

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 October 1946, Page 5

LEFT WING UNIONS HAVE APPARENTLY FAILED IN AUSTRALIA

COSTLY, UNSUCCESSFUL WAYS (Special from C. R. Mentiplay, N.Z. Press Association Correspondent). Recd. 9.35 p.m. Sydney, Oct. 29. After several weeks of industrial turmoil, extending through four States, it now appears that left wing unions have failed in their bld to achieve abolition of the wage pegging regulations, and immediate introduction of a 40-hour week. Their movement was a concerted one, which reached its peak in the Victorian transport strike, and in lesser displays of strength which paralysed industry for short periods in parts of New South Wales, Queensland and South Autralia. Strikers were able to exert immediate pressure by cutting off communications and bringing local shortages of materials which caused power rationing, and by causing great inconvenience to the general public. Other irresponsible unions followed the leaders in a series of short-term strikes, which, to the union members who lost wages through them, must have seemed an expensive way of demonstrating solidarity. Such demonstrations failed signally to evoke the desired response. Secure in the belief that the fixation of hours and wages is the business of the Arbitration Court, the Prime Minister, Mr. Chifley, refused to be intimidated.

AH the strikers have gained could have been won by saner and less costly methods. The strikes were called without authorisation of the governing bodies of the Trade Union Movement, and these bodies, notably the New South Wales Trades and Labour Council and Victorian Trades Hall Council, were quick to censure the strikers. As a result the Trades Hall Council took over the Melbourne strike against the will of the extremists. From then on the progress was favourable to a settlement.

The New South Wales Council denounced irresponsible strikers and supported the Australasian Council of Trades Unions in its reliance on the Arbitration Court. The result has been two-fold. Most of the New South Wales unions have avoided direct action, but the action of seven left wing union delegates in walking out of the council meeting last night points to a likelihood of a cleavage within the council itself.

Disgruntled unionists are understandably impatient at the ponderous progress of the Arbitration Court in its hearing the case for the 40-hour week. They have lost sight of the fact that it was the Australasian Council of Trade Unions which decided that a reduction of hours should come before the Court ahead or the basic wage.

What has happened in Melbourne is that Mr. Chifley has pointed out to the council the effect of the protracted Arbitration Court hearing in the leftist unions, and has convinced it that the proceedings should be shortened. Once the question of reduced hours has been dealt with the Court will be free to consider factors affecting the basic wage. Organised demonstrations, therefore, have served to display the weakness and inconsistencies in the ranks of industrial labour itself,, without gaining concessions from either the employers or the Government. At the same time Mr. Chifley has made a striking and impressive appearance as champion of the established system against the illegal assaults of “direct action” devotees.