New Move By Trade Unions And Miners

Chronicle (Levin), 25 June 1949, Page 5

New Move By Trade Unions And Miners

(N.Z.P.A.

— Reuter

. Copyricrht)

Received Friday, 10.40 p.m. SYDNEY, June 24. The Joint Coal Board is considering proposals put forward by the emergeney committee of the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the combined Mining Unions Council with a view to averting the coal strike throughout 'Australia. This was announced after a meeting of the no bodies this afternoon. The Australian . Broadcasting Commission announced tonight that if the proposals are accepted there will be no general strike on Monday.* The Joint Coal Board 's decision will be given tomorrow morning. Early mespages stated that the lilcelihood of a pottlement before the miners implement tlieir general strike threat on Mondav recoded following talks betwoen the combined Mining Unions' Council and the moderate union leaders.

The conference dealt mamJy with the history of the dispute, and the Min ing Union 's Council spent a considerable time dcciding whether thev would meet representatives of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. At anotlier meeting the miners talked over the elaims with representatives of a group of Communist-controlled Fe deral unions, and received a pledge that these unions would support the miners. Hillside unions represented at this meeting comprised the ironworkers. seamen, ship painters and dockers, watersiders, Imilding workers, gas emplovees and the Sydney bra-nch of the boilermakers. Asked why tlioy did not use hurricane lamps to continue the conference last night instead of adjourning until to-day oue delegate said: "If the Government cannot go to tlie trouble of providing us with a lighted room 1 don't see wliy we should run around after lanterns." Tiie president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, who is attempting to bring about a settlement, said: "We were prepared to sit into tlie night in Ihe hope of settling the strike. Tt is absurd and fantastie that we could not liave power to continue our discussions. " Men Are Divided The Coomber Miners' Lodge in the Western District. sent an urgent telegram to the Miners' Council reeommending that the strike should be postponed. The Ivaningo miners refused to support tlieir exeeutive in asking for a postponement, and the powerful John Darling Lodge rejeeted a siniilar motion in uproar. Tliree mines decided to str ik* in protest against a broadcast address by the chairmah.- of the Joint Coal Board (Mr K. A. Cameron) who told tlie miners that the way of conciliatinn and arbitration was still open.