AFTER FIVE MONTHS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1929, Page 1

AFTER FIVE MONTHS

TIMBER STRIKE SETTLEMENT.. SYDNEY NOT INCLUDED SYDNEY, June 27. The settlement of the timber strike reached in Melbourne on Saturday last does not, for some reason or other, apply to Sydney, although when the strike was commenced five months ago, Sydney and Melbourne unions were united. The Melbourne settlement was a tribute to Sir Robert Gibson, who presided at the conference, and who very nearly collapsed when he had brought 'about a settlement. Both parties united in singing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” and perhaps it was this demonstration, which was the essence of sincerity, which affected him. At any rate, he was not in a position to make an official statement for some time after, and he needed medical attention/ He had achieved what seemed to he impossible. Both parties had expressed determination not to give way an inch, and yet lie brought about a compromise which was accepted by the whole of the employers and the men.

No sooner had the Melbourne settlement been announced then the Sydney employers rushed into print, with a half page advertisement announcing, in effect, that such a settlement would not be acceptable to them. They would have nothing to do with a compromise, and they seem to lie disappointed that Melbourne had been led into one. However, Melbourne pmp'overs had evidently been impressed with the idea that there should he some measure to give and take, and so they ended one of the most remarkable strikes on record in Australia’s sad history of industrial disturbances. Tt affected nearly 15,000 men, and the amount of money as strike relied' amounted to more than £15.000 a remarkable tribute to comradeship of the workers.

THE WEEK’S WORK. Since Judge Lukin delivered liis award in the Federal Arbitration Court, the Melbourne employers have iusiscd upon a working week of 48 hours, in accordance with the provisions of that award. Tin's has been preserved, in spite of union objections. A meeting of 2500 members of the Timber Workers’ Union, the Carpenters’ and' Joiners’ Union, and the Drivers’ Onion, passed a resolution reaffirming the 44-hour week, but agreeing to return to work under the terms of the settlement arrived at by the Gibson conference. The terms provide for a 48-hour week, with the provision that one-half day’s pay a week of each man shall be banked in a suspense account for six months. Tn the meantime nr enquiry will be held into the financin' position of the timber industry, and if it is found -nat the industry can stand a 44-hour week, the employees will receive this amount, and if not. the money will revert to the employers. And so it would seem that in keeping with the nature of the strike the terms of the settlement are remarkable.

POSITION IN SYDNEY. Of course all the points in dispute were not settled at the conference, but further negotiations will continue as soon as all the men have returned to work. Doth sides have been complimented on their display of commonsense in reaching a settlement even though that settlement was somewhat belated. It is felt that the strike in Sydney could also be settled if the employers would not insist upon a general resumption of work before anything in the nature of a conference is even spoken of. The strikers are prepared to meet in confeience at ;my time, and they have even hinted that they will be prepared to consider a compromise, but in this attitude they have received no encouragement from the employers. It certainly seems remarkable that a strike should continue in Sydney for five months