RURAL WORKERS IN AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14843, 8 December 1913, Page 5

RURAL WORKERS IN AUSTRALIA.

(FROM OTJB. OWN CORRESPONDENT.) SYDNEY, November 29. Now that they have entered upon their season of harvesting farmers in j different parts of New South Wales and Victoria, where tho Rural Workers , Union's agents hare been at work, find themselves face to face with strike difficulties which they have- hitherto regarded as peculiarly city evils. The Rural Workers' Union is of comparatively recent origin, but it has already secured amalgamation with the Workers s union, the strongest labour organisation in Australia. A log of rates tremendously in advance of those generally paid in tho past has been drawn up by the Union, and the Union plan of compaign is that members shall refuse to do harvesting or other work for farmers who will not pay those rates. >\ bile protesting, in common with their •Vji WS ' that tho IJnion demands are wildly extravagant, some farmers are submitting in the fear that crops may be ruined if not gathered soon. Others are holding out, and are doing as much '3 s , they cat themsolves without hired labour. In some cases rural workers who started work have gone out on strike for Union rates after having been addressed by Union organisers, and have established strike camps Although tho trouble has only begun tho Rural Workons' Union has had before tho President of tho Commonwealth Arbitration CourJ, Mr Justice Higgins, a request for the convening by him of a compulsory conference as for the settlement of a big industrial dispute. The Farmors' Associations told the Judge that there was not such a dispute, and tho Judge declined the request.- Now tho secretary of tho Ruial Workers' organisation says threatingjy that it remains for the. members of his organisation to see wfiat they can do for themselves. What farmers fear more than the Rural Workers' Union is the Australian Workers' Union, which controls the carrying industry in the outback, and may cause much trouble in connexion with the transport workers between farm and ship.