MELBOURNE IN THROES OF TRAMWAY STRIKE

Chronicle (Levin), 6 January 1948, Page 3

MELBOURNE IN THROES OF TRAMWAY STRIKE

(N.Z.P.A. — Re-vter*

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Beeeived Monday, 10.40 p.m.. MELBOURNE, Jan. 5. There is no indication yet of an early end to the Melbourne tramway strike which began at midnight on Saturday ,in support of a demand that a 40-hour week be worked in iive days. The board had' p'repared' six-day rosters which the men rejected. The dispute has been referred to the chief Oonciliation "Commissioner who will hear the case tomorrow. The Govei'nment will not intervene pending the Commissioner 's decision. ' ^ The railways are not yet involved but njay be affected if the tram dispute is not settled. People went to work thla morning with a minimum- of inconvenience. Extra bus services were run to suburban railway stations and private motorists also gave lifts to persons from tramstops. Many big lirms • provided emergency transport for their employees. At a mass meeting 3000 tramwaymen reaffirmed their decision not to work. They set up a strike committee, agreed to pieket the tram routes and depots, and appealed to railway and other workers for support. The men have demanded a 40-hour, five-day week from March 1 and have ofEered to work 44 hours, with four hours ' overtime on the old rosters until then. The Tramways Board insists that a 40-hour, six-day week should be worked pending reorganisation of 'the rosters on a five day week basis. In Sydney the tramwaymen have been working a 40-hour, five-day week since January 1, with one day overtime every fortnight.