STRIKES MAY FOLLOW DRASTIC VICTORIAN MEASURE

Grey River Argus, 17 November 1948, Page 7

STRIKES MAY FOLLOW DRASTIC VICTORIAN MEASURE

MELBOURNE, Nov. 16. The proclamation of the Essential Services Act by the Victorian Executive Council has provoked violent reaction from the more militant unions. Under the Act it is an offence for the workers in any essential in- • dustry to strike unless the majority of the union members has first approved of such action by secret ballot. In a protest against the proclamation, the transport unions have called a 24-hour stoppage in Victoria w morrow. The Trades Hall Council is meeting to discuss action. Meanwhile ,other unions are .waiting for a lead, but the Building Trades Federation has arranged lunch-hour protests at 200 jobs in the city and country. According to a Government spokesman the proclamation was finally forced by the recent bread and gas strikes in Victoria. POWERS OF ACT The Emergency Powers Bill was passed by the Victorian Parliament on January 15 during the Victorian tramways strike. Under it the elate Government would have had power to acquire the Tramway Board buses as well as private buses* and cars to break the strike, which was then in its twelfth day. On January 16, the State Government conferred with the representatives of the strikers, who agreea to resume work, provided the Act would not be proclaimed law at. that time. On these terms ,the strike was settled. The Essential Services Act, which controls services such as transport, fuel, light, power, water and sewerage or any other service specified by Order-in-Council, renders union oificials and trustees liable to a fine of £lOOO and union members to a fine of not more than £5O if a secret ballot is not held before strike action is> taken. Clause three, under which tne Government retains the power to declare that a state of emergency exists in any essential service, has not. yet been promulgated.