WATERSIDERS' STRIKE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19175, 5 December 1927, Page 9

WATERSIDERS' STRIKE.

federation Accepts Challenge

HEAVY WAGE LOSSES,

Deserted Wharves.

Ihe watersiders' strike is developing, throwing thou^ uof men out of work, and hitting industry badly. It is Smited that the loss of wages alone amounts to £30,000 a The Management Committee of the Waterside Work'Federationannounces officially that it has accepted the Tsllenge of the shipowners, and will use all its powers to 'tain its position. Meanwhile British and foreign shiprs trading with Australia announce that that country *il shortly be completely isolated as a result of the strike.

COLOSSAL LOSS. CALAMITOUS POSITION. <iaot un> »* « MB "» OMAnoH -> SYDNEY, December 3. ~ strike is developing Hs effects litag more widespread and many J3T O ? me n are idle throughout involving a colosj]«to indnstry. Abler-State commerce has ceased, o}m of wages alone is estimated iftOOO daily- \ waterfront at Sydney presents Ite appearance for, apart from Jki which are exempted from Snsof the strike, tho harfilled with idle ships and the ffSSTSw '«,/»•»?» lon the northern coalfields .will itlnwn out of employment as a re■Jt Of the hold-up of inter-Stato and mih illpping. Am »re approximately sixty-four nnet iteamers in Australian waters Z tonnage of 440,000. All these it affected by the strike. KtMeeke, president of the Sydney tiito of Commerce, states a comtti hold-up of shipping at the prcnlketure can only be described as lib calamity. All steamers arriving n tarrying seasonable goods, which, jib; earraot be placed on the market klit Christmas trade, will have to Win |n bond stores for twelve months iiriik deterioration and loss. Tho Jtert will be a heavy burden for the oitMlal community. Si|,FOR SETTLEMENT. TUBES UNION'S O^FER. (, Ikbui; «fl> *.*• CABLS ASSOCIATION.) ; (WtiJ December 4th, 5.5 p.m.) jIBtiBOUBNE, December 4. i'Mnite move in the way of a settleMltf the waterside™' strike was ywleiday by 1 Mr Crofts, secret>7 of the Federal Trades Union Com"illte, to telegraphing Mr Stanley •*«| dferjng to give all possible as***•.tomorrow to secure an amicw» lettlement. Cross plaints by the '•tawe Workers' Federation and the wuwintau Steam Shipowners' AsJjjlion, and the other shipowners in""H mil be mentioned in the Fedo- * Arbitration Court, Melbourne, to- *»*■. ;.'::■■■'

It is contended that the Arbitration Court is now faced with a much more serious position than was the case when the dispute was only between the shipowners and the watersiders, because practically every federated union is now either directly or indirectly affected. That aspect made it absolutely imperative that the Court, which was a recognised authority for the settlement of disputes, should intervene without further delay. It is therefore suggested that the Court should call a compulsory conference of parties to the dispute. Senator McLachlan, who is watching the strike situation on behalf of the Government, after separate conferences with representatives of the Oversea Shipping Association, the Commonwealth Shipowners' Association, and the secretarv of the Melbourne Trades Hall Counci'l, said that he was more hopeful of an early settlement than he had been prior to the conferences. It is understood that further conferences are being held to-day. Efforts were made by officials of the Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions and the secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council .o dpen negotiations for a settlement of the dispute after these officials had conferred with the Federal Management Committee of the Watersiders' Federation. It is announced that further representations will be made with a view to obtaining the intervention of the Arbitration Court. In the event of this course failing to bring about the required result, a conference of all waterside organisations in the Commonwealth will immediately be convened to frame a common strike policy. EFFECTS SPREADING. (attstbaliaw and n-z- cable association.) (Received December sth, 1 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 4. A number of representatives of overseas shipping companies to-night departed for Melbourne, where important conferences are being held next week to discuss the strike position. The effects are already beginning to be severely felt outsido direct shipping occupations. Carting and other firms are largely reducing hands.

ADELAIDE WORKERS. / (austbalian and k-z- cabm association.) ADELAIDE, December 4. Wharf labourers attended pickups yesterday, but their services were not required. While the men are obey, inc the orders of the Board of Management, they appear individually to have little heart in the struggle. "WAIT AND SEE." (AUSTRALIA* AND X.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received December 4th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 3. The Seamen's Union and the Transport Workers' Union have adopted a "wait and see" attitude in connexion with the Australian strike, /either has up to tho present received official news from Australia, and does not contemplate action. ISOLATION PREDICTED. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. AND SUN CABLE.) (Received December 4th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 3. British and foreign shipowners trading with Australia have issued a statement pointing out that Australia will in a short time be completely isolated, asserting that the present deadlock was forced upon them by the Workers Federation treating the conditions or the Arbitration Court contemptuously. The shipowners* have no wish to prolong the stoppage, but unless the men are prepared to accept the conditions laid down by the Court, it will be necessary in order to prevent a complete paralysis of trade, to take prompt steps to obtain any labour, including watersidors if willing, which may come forward on the terms of awards. HIGHER COST OF FREIGHTS. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLX ASSOCIATION.) (Received December 4th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 3. Among the results of the Australian striko is a depression in other freight markets *s ships which should have been employed carrying Australian grain are compelled to seek employment elsewhere T' •■Morning Post's" shipping correspondent says that the only really active markot is River Plate, which is inundated with tonnage seeking employment The Pacific trade is expected to absorb a considerable amount of tonnage between now and February, but with Australia o-1 of the running charterers are getting all they require at cheap rates. Australia will have to charter sooner or later, and when the strike is over tonnage will have to be attracted probably at appreciably higher rates than now ruling.

*i»M4eritood that the following Mttlement are to be suggestJn**lly by the union mediators *»• Court officials: That the over"'ittfte be declared off; that men *•» Wotk at all ports under award «*Howj that the question of one J*t pick-ups he left to a Board "*Wenee; and that the Court hear T«Wy the men's log claims. Committee of the jS* Workers' Federation in an Sjw«nent declares that it has yn the challenge of the shipownV* m use all the forces at its ?™«d to support its position. The J£W:«ljU: "The Committee of Sto!£?it' ui * ma^e everv endeavour J*«w toe dispute to its own ocou2T«» * MU>I deali »g with the attire' the two sides to the dispute, n «««oHmt goes on: "The shipown- & M.v TOr up tno weaknesses of iiiij2 M {J on »nd confuse the public fctffj o «• iwue, have launched *P?iW P leased to oal l a" ulti - NrU A " tho diMct result of to stampede our mem,j oews of vessels are being paid jgW waoh port. ort 5!"J 80n got away " «Waad on Friday.

UNIONS AFFECTED. JESTED COMPULSORY CONFERENCE. Nitm ttol . —■ W Jf.B, OABU ASSOCIATION.) V MELBOURNE, December 3. *4l? polroßrß hare decided that 1 m • Bt ** mers 8t present tied u*" »*il without discharging or of representatives w SUmen'a Union with the Man**L«,Mnitt«e of the watersiders, WTLW there should' be %oJJJoI of the dispute, and that *UJv£!i , on 3 wh °se members are *4? T £jed should immediately be •*'«« the strike developed h at° fotherUmoD - NttS u* lnnln g of the strike, the C l tW J?f 6 "dopted the attitude L%toS i noi want intervention 2^>lr n "f tion »» but this policy dunn g the last few »ftj]jgjM£ the conference with the iSffi: N £? Zealand Council of Kfe&& latter, in an offi--s*%r.S:' that the council *° in temne with a fiS&'tadl L 8 *$ * settlement of the 2«Sitr»*i e 2 d «*vouring to induce fiWr P!.. n Cour ' to move in the Ckeo*? ,re also oe'ng formu " £M!rtKiJr Jnmß an >nter-State coni l,nions concerned, and that the SffiEjrfv Will be approached |jk^ L ~ eliwting its assistance.