SYDNEY SHIPYARD LOCKOUT

Chronicle (Levin), 29 November 1946, Page 5

SYDNEY SHIPYARD LOCKOUT

Reeeived Thursdav, 7 p.m. SYDNEY, Nov. 28. About SOOO shipvnrd employees are dut of work today t'ollowing the closing down yesterday of 04 Sydney shipbuilding and repair works. The lock-out followed an unsiu-cessful compulsory eonference 011 the Aletal Trtides Emplnyers' Association and the nine unions invol-ved in the Alorts Dock dispute. A mass meeting of all the workcrs aft'ected by the lock-out will be held tomorrow. ' One immediate effeet of the closing of the shipyards will be that ships will avoid Sydne.v^ resulting in a Joss of trade generally. A representative of the Aletal Trades Employers' Association stated that all tlie shipyards had ilosed, with the exception of (Juckatoo and Gni'den Island, botli Governinent-controlied conccrns. The workers will lose almost £00, 000 a week in wages. At tlie moment 110 other workers will be all'ected, as the jobs 011 which the men throvvn idle nave been occupied consist mainly df ship repiiirs, with little shipping const ruction work.. Sliould the lock-out eontinue, however,

it will lead to widespread hold-ups of industrv. The Aorangi and Afonowai, which are being reconverted for peacetime service, are among the vessels all'ected.