TIMBER WORKERS’ STAND

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1929, Page 6

TIMBER WORKERS’ STAND

WILL NOT ATTEND ARBITRATION COURT. (Australian Press Association). (United Service). MELBOURNE, Jan. 20. It was decided yesterday evening that no union officials would attend the Arbitration Court on Wednesday, when Justice Lukin delivers his final judgment on the timber workers’ award. A large section of the men, including carpenters, arc determined to work only forty-four hours a week. DEMONSTRATION AT SYDNEY. SYDNEY, Jan. 20. About eight, hundred men, employed in various branches of the timber industry, marched from the Trades Hall, Sydney, through the city to-day, obstructing traffic, to Belmont Park, where their leaders, Messrs Garden and Kavanah and Beasley, addressed them, exhorting them to stand solidly for, a forty-four hour week against Justice Lukin’s award. “Fill fihe gaols.” was Kavanah s appeaLto the men. Air Garden claimed that an organised attempt was .being made to break down the toil\four hour week. The meeting carried a resolution protesting agains Judge Lukins award, and pledging support to lellow unionists in other states. A similar demonstration was held in South Australia, where the resolutions submitted from the recent Australian Trades Union Council Conference m Melbourne, were carried by acclamation. THE AUSTRALIAN DISPUTE. MELBOURNE, Jan. 21. The first definite move to defy the Lukin award of a 48-hours week in the timber industry was made to-day when three thousand employees in various mills ignored the 7.30 a.m. whistle, and began work at 8 a.m. The men took an hour for lunch instead of threequarters of an hour, and stopped work at 5 p.m. which is the usual time. The men also intend to work four hours on Saturday morning, thus making 44 • hours, for the week, instead of 48. The emplovers will make a counter movement; This will he to pay the men pro rata on the basis of a 48-hours week. This means that if the men work only 44 hours, her hours will be I deducted from the:r pay. The Lord Mayor of Melbourne and Sir Arthur Duckliam are trying to bring the parties together before the trouble spreads.