WAR OR WORK ?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 475, 3 October 1928, Page 9

WAR OR WORK ?

Unions Ponder Problem

COMPROMISE AMENDMENT REJECTED

rE maritime unions, in conference at Melbourne, have rejected a motion that the men register and return to work before any effort is made to fight the Transport Workers Act. A motion arming the conference with authority for a great fight by all unions has been referred to a special subcommittee, which probably will report to-day.

United P.A—By Tele graph—Copy righ

Reed. 10.10 a.m. MELBOURNE, To-day. At the maritime unions* conference, a motion was launched by Mr. Jock Garden, secretary of the New South Wales Labour Council. After long discussion, it was referred to a special sub-committee, which will probably furnish its report to the conference to-day. The motion is to the effect that the conference, “realising that the Federal Government and the shipowners have united their forces to smash all the marine and transport unions, and the conference having done all possible to avert an industrial upheaval, has now no alternative but to fight for the freedom and liberty of the members of the unions.” The motion then lays down the following policy: To instruct all workers to refrain from taking out licences; the formation of councils of action in each State; the organisation of strong picketing squads; no trades unionists to handle any goods handled by free labour, or to work in co-operation with free labour; electricians and gas workers to hold themselves ready to take necessary action at a time and place to be decided by the Council of Trades Unions; every union in the Commonwealth to act in conjunction with the action of the State Council; every union to work as a disciplined force, and no sectional or craft action to be engaged in; and, finally, there must be no action, “however provocative the action of the employers may be,” until instructed by the Council of Trades Unions. AMENDMENT REJECTED An amendment to this motion was defeated by a large majority. This suggested that in view of the situa tion it is advisable for the waterside workers to be instructed to register under the Transport Workers Act and to resume work; the question of fighting the Act when the men are back at work to be left to the discretion of the council and to the unions. Mr. J. H. Scullin, leader of the Federal Labour Party, and other Parliamentarians, addressed the conference.

Mr. Scullin condemned Mr. Garden and the other militants lor their attempts to extend the strike, saying they were urging the men to do things they themselves were not prepared to do. He added that continuance of the strike would certainly disrupt the Labour movement and prejudice Labour’s chances at the approaching Federal elections. The atmosphere became electrical when about 50 coal-trimmers rushed into the conference room and demanded no surrender. Mr. Garden influenced the men to leave the hall. SEAMEN LEAVE SHIPS

The seamen and stewards on the Tasmanian steamer Oonah walked

off that vessel yesterday, because volunteer labour had worked the cargo last night. Heavy rain fell yesterday morning when labour was called for. There was no recurrence of violence. The policemen on the wharves outnumbered the free labourers and the strikers, and no attempt was made to molest the volunteers who applied for licences. The seamen on the steamer Burwah, after having supplied steam for half an hour for the volunteers who were working the cargo, left tne vessel. They said they would not assist the volunteers. In order to maintain communication with Tasmania, the shipowners have decided not to receive cargo for the steamer Nairana, and that vessel will sail for Tasmania -with passengers only. COLLIERIES CLOSED

2,000 MEN MADE IDLE. ALL MINES THREATENED SYDNEY, Tuesday. Owing to a shortage of railway wagons two collieries in the Cessnock district have been closed. This has rendered idle 2,000 employees. The closing of the mines is due to the waterside strike, because when ships are not moving wagons cannot be emptied at Newcastle and no coal is cut in the pits unless it can be sent away. Unless the waterside strike is settled within a fortnight it will be necessary for every coalmine on the northern fields to be closed. In that case more than 13,000 miners would be idle. The shortage of shipping and the consequent piling up of thousands of coalladen wagons at Newcastle, also the withdrawal of the railwaymen from the coal services, is having a drastic effect on mining operations. The owners of many of the other collieries are easing up production in an endeavour to make the supply of wagons last as long as possible. WORKERS REGISTER

At Port Adelaide the waterside workers refused to resume work today, although all registered under the Transport Workers Act.

The men claim that the regulations are not clear and that it would be an advantage to both parties if they could be thoroughly understood. They say the shipowners promised them a conference to discuss this aspect, but today refused to confer, stating that the headquarters of the shipping companies at Melbourne would not agree to that condition. Work on a number of vessels at Port Adelaide was resumed with volunteer labour. The wharves are strongly guarded by armed special police. The issue of licences to waterside workers at Newcastle is proceeding without a hitch. Strikers are working there side by side with volunteers.