EMPLOYERS' UKASE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1984, 14 February 1914, Page 5

EMPLOYERS' UKASE

' UNITED EFFORT. : IN THE INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC. CONSTANT DEMANDS OF WORKERS TO BE RESISTED. By TeleffraDlHPross Aesociatlim-Oopyriislit (Rec. February 13, 8.3 p.m.) Sydney, February 13. A meeting of the Executive of the Employers' Federation discussed the industrial position, ami it was decided: "That tlio time has como for united resistance of thft continual uplifting of wages and shortening of hours.'" Theexecutive also issued a-a important official declaration. After reviewing tiro "lazy" and other strikes, and t'iifc flouting of awards, it-.says; "Tim failure of industrial legislation as a preventative of strikes was never more clor&rly dolnoUstrated than by tho present unions endeavouring, by means of sectional demands, to .secure wages imd working conditions, which, if granted to ail grades of workers, would cripple industrial and commercial progress and greatly increase the cost of living. The principle (or want of principle) <311 which an industrial award is based encourages tho unions to como forward individually to secure, continual increases of wages and log soiling of hours, Tho Industrial Ccurts and Wages Hoards apparently fail to consider the effects of awards on industrial conditions as a whole. Every concession secured by.oiio union is used ■ as a lever to secure advantages by other groups, which- prohably would otherwise 1 have 110 chance o : f substantiating their claims. Increase erf pay to one section of an industry is not a serious handicap to the industry, but when multiplied many times tins result is obvious. Wo a ., r ® travelling in a vicious circle and the • Federation lias readied the conclusion that ilie time Ijas arrived to show a wilted resistance in the interests of tho general public, who after all have to bear the burden." RECENT OFFER WITHDRAWN. 1 COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO DEAL • WITH DISPUTE,' (Rec. February 13, D.45 p.m.) Sydney, February 13. Since the breaking of Zealand strike, there diss been a growing movement among Australian employers in the direction of. unity for resisting the ■ employees' constant demands for higher : wages and shortened hours. Tho wharf- , moil's "lazy strike" and tho butchers' . trouble liave- added a strong impetus to the movement. Tho following E-ni.ploy- ■ ers' Federation ukase was issued from i the conference to-day : "The Pastoraiist-s' aiul Fanners' Associations, and all trades directly and indirectly allied to tho im&t- industry, havo decided to unite in firmly resisting tlio butchery employees' demands." .. .. Tho eonlorenco resolved to withdraw 1 tho rwenuvffor made by tlio retail but- . clrers, and declined by tho Dutc-hors' Union, and appointed a permanent committee to -deal with tho dispute, Tho speeches indicated that the employers kayo' reached , tho limit of compromise; Tho committee subsequently, appointed representatives to meet the Minister of Labour. - ,i,,-. „■ f; . , It was decided to supply hospitals aid' tther Govornnient . institatiyns with l riieat, and anyono holding stocks of meat in cold storage is lo bo asked to . placo theiii'at tbo.committep's disposal. 1 Tlio gonerarfmprcssion is thiiVtlioi-o is ■■ ftt-cre iii the'employers'. attitude than 1 actually appears 011 tho surface. - The , frequent inferences at tlw employers' , meetings to the New Zealand and South African strikes indicate that tiro coji- , elusions to bo drawn thorefiom arc that, if pushed further, tho employers will 1 rM decline to light to a finish along tho • "whole liaei HUNDREDS IDLE. 1 WORK AT THE ABATTOIRS CEASES. '(Rec, February-13, 9.45 p.m.) Sydney, February 13. When tho men attended .at 't-ha Glebe \ Island' abattoirs to-day they found that with the,-exception of one or two establishments all worfe had ceased. Hun- ' dreds of men are -idle. They claim that. this. constitutes a lock-out. • BOTH SIDES FIRM. INTERVIEW WITH"MINISTER OF : NO AVAIL, (Rec. February 14., 1.10 a.m.) Sydney, February 13. The strike outlook is ominous. In i an interview with tlie- Minister of Labour, representatives of both sides fail- ; cd to find a solution of the difficulty. : Tile Council of tho Employees' Union i of Australasia met to-night and decided that they could, not accept the eompro- . miso offered on Thursday and itfiich 1 meantime tho employers had withdrawn,' Both sides aro apparently determined, . and there is a probability of other trades becoming involved' unless the deadlock is quickly removed. It is understood 1 that-both sidos have received promises 1 of support. Tho Labour Council for the present at i any rata will not inte-rveiife as tlio Moat . Employees' Union is not an affiliated , union and hag n.ot so far asked for aup- . port. MASS MEETING OF EMPLOYEES. Sydney, February 13. 'At tlio conference with tho butchers tho masters renewed their offer of hours a week and a five shillings increase, but tho moll declined to agree to the employers' terms. Kotliing definite has been settled. A mass meeting of a.lj, employees in tho meat tra.do tak'es placo to-day. . SITUATION IN MELBOURNE. Melbourne, February 13, A meeting of representatives of all tlio trade unions likely to bo affected in tho -event of a butchers' strike dis-> cussed what steps should bo taken. No information has been given as to the decisions arrived at. It is believed a strike is inevitable.