ORDERED BACK TO WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 468, 25 September 1928, Page 1

ORDERED BACK TO WORK

Waterside Strikers

UNIONS’ COUNCIL TAKES CHARGE Transport Workers Not Embroiled rE transport unions have refused to be dragged into the Australian waterside dispute, and the Australasian Council of Trades Unions has ordered the strikers to resume work immediately, under the terms of the Beeby award.

(United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright)

Reed. Noon. SYDNEY. To-day. The most important development of the strike position at Brisbane is the decision by seamen to supply steam tor the free labourers, while 100 Carters are handling the goods unloaded by tree labour. At Melbourne a conference of representatives of the maritime unions, under the auspices of the Australasian Council of Trades Unions, has ordered all the strikers on the waterfront to resume work under the Beeby award. The majority of the representatives objected to widening the breach by dragging in outside unions simply because of the introduction of volunteer labour by the employers. The carriers’ and drivers’ representatives declared that they were not prepared to have their members embroiled in a general strike. All present expressed bitter resentment at the Federal Government’s attempt to conscript labour by means of the recently-enacted legislation placed in the hands of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court. The water side dispute has now been left in the hands of the Australasian Council of Trades Unions. The shipowners have withdrawn their promise of a conference to the Waterside Federation, because of the federation’s inability to control its own members. Two men have been convicted of having thrown metal at volunteers. One was fined £5, and the other was sent to gaol for two weeks. One vic-

tim of the attack is suffering from a fractured skull. His condition has slightly improved. NO HITCH AT SYDNEY The waterside workers at Sydney yesterday worked without a hitch. Large numbers attended the afternoon call for labour. At a meeting of the New South Wales transport group of unions it was decided strenuously to oppose the Transport Worker- Bill. Plans are being made to call a Federal conference of unions to discuss ways and means. At Newcastle the loading of the steamer Poolta, which is en route to New Zealand via north coast ports, was finished by volunteer labour. Unionists are still working one steamer. RAILWAYS THREATENED Following upon the dismissal of 11 rallwaymen at Bowen In connection with sugar deliveries to the wharf, where -the farmers are loading ships, the suggestion has arisen that Queensland is faced with another railway strike. The rallwaymen at a meeting last evening decided to remain outside the strike pending further instructions from the State executive of the Australian Railways Union. However, a fireman on the wharf to-day on a shunting engine refused to go on to the jetty with a load of sugar. He was immediately suspended. Ten other men who refused to take his place were also suspended. Subsequently the 11 men were dismissed.