THE SYDNEY STRIKE.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1917, Page 3

THE SYDNEY STRIKE.

SETTLING THE, STRIKE. GOVERNMENT TERMS AGREED TO. {I*KR PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] / AUCKLAND, This Day. On September Bth. a settlement of the New Souh Wa’es Railway and Tramway strike which had lasted for 38 days was announced, on terms upholding the authority of Government. ' Several other unions yielded later.

Eight meetings of craft unions on the 17th. September agreed to follow the Strike Committees recommendation and return to work, though the Boiler-makers, nioulflers, carpenters. ia.nd ironworkers' engine-dr stipulated they would only resume in private shops, and Government dockyards. When the basis of settlement with the Railway men was drawn up on September 7th, at interviews between the Industrial commissioner and the strikes representatives, tlie ministers knew the end was only a matter of hours.

The unions when asked to states their bedrock ideas,, were found to he very little at variance with the terms Government had indicated nine days before. The retentio nof loyalists and the reemployment of all strikers were the only possible obstacles to the settle-

ment. . The card system was accepted as it oould have been before the strike or a week afterwards, when at a eon ferenee between Cabinet and the State leaders, Air. Eraser the Chief Commissioner with facts and arguments left the men’s delegates without a eg to stand on. . Resolute as Government had been on that point, it was equally determined not to permit victimisation of loyalists.

A COMPLETE- SETTLEMENT.

T.ERAIS OF AGREEMENT

I Received This Dav at 11.25. a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Tho terms of the strike settlement

"Firstly—The card system, as existing on August Ist is to he continued and at the end of three months, a Royal Commission is to be appointed to enquire into, and determine whether it* ■operation is just or otherwise, and whether it should he continued. Secondly— -In the operation ot the card svstem. every man shall, every dav have an opportunity of inspecting and initialing his card, relating to the previous day’s work. ~ Thirdly—The union is to submit lull lists of grievances to a Special Com-

missioner for arbitration. Foinithlv —Such of the grievances as are raised issues, which fall within the jurisdiction of the Arbitration Court he immediately referred thereto. Fifthly—Other grievances arc to ho referred bv the Commissioner to me Cabinet-, which will amend the Arbitration Act so as to give the Court jurisdiction over all industrial matters, m not matters of business management.

Sixthly—The Railway Commissioner to have discretion in filling vacancies. Seventhly—Work to. be resumed without resentment, and employment offered without vindictiveness. Tliero were unniistafteable sign- nf relief among the strike leaders and employees, that the disastrous venture was ended.

The result is not wliat the unions ( hoped for, but distress and discontent j had tempered their stubbornness, and ; it was recognised that an unbending ; policy was no longer sustainable.