STRIKERS OCCUPY WORKS

Chronicle (Levin), 18 December 1946, Page 5

STRIKERS OCCUPY WORKS

Press Assn.-

White Gollar Volunteers Dispiaced

SYDNEY FACING NO GAS

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Tuesday, 10.55 p,.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 17. Surprising deveiopments occurred this afternoon in the gas stoke in Sydney. Shortly after noon the State president of the Gas Employees' Union (Mr. Keith Smith) announced that the members of the union were taking ovei che Mortlake gasworks in order to maintain the supply of gas to the public. He said that the men were .aking over as volunteers without payment to relieve the anxiety oi nouseholder's who were not reeeiving an adequate supply of gas. from the white collar workers. This followed heated scenes this morning when the white collar workers attempting to man the works were rnet by ,200 strikers. The police were ealled. in this afternoon and the men.moved into the works. Shoruy afterwards the president's statement was retracted and one by Mr. J. C. West, State secretary and Federal president, was substituted. He announced that the striking gas workers had taken over the Mortlake gasworks from the staff workers and were producing gas at the rate maintained by the dispiaced volunteers. It was intended to do this until word was received from the Federal executive to decrease, maintain or increase supplies. "I know now that the Federal executive will direct that gas production in Sydney will cease, probably by tonight," he continued. "That means ihar the presenc supplies in reserve will probably last 30 to 50 hourt and that Sydney will be without gas by Thursday. My men will be completely in charge of the plant within a few hours and the white collar workers will not be on the job."