The sun., 1903-12-13
UNION RULE IN THE ANTIP0DES
VORKING or THE NEW SOUTH
WALES LABOR Law.

creased Industrial Troubles justice
Done 10 Non.IniOn Men-MOnOpOiies
(reated--NIay Drive Out Capital.
SYDNEY, N s. W., Nov 9.-When Mr.
Wise. the New South Wales State Attorney
General introduced his Industrial Con-
ciliation and Arbitration bill he declared
that under its provisions strikes would
cease and harmony reign in workshop,
mine and factory Unfortunately Mr. Wise
did not possess the gift of prophecy. In
stead of preventing industrial disputes the
measure has had the effect Of increasing
them a hundredfold, and has become an
instrument Of injustice to considerable
numbers of people for no other reason than
that they are non-unionists.
II threatens no end of mischief to the
employed. as well as the employers. Ac-
c0Idng to the act no person has any stand
ing in the Arbitration Court unless he be-
longs to an industrial union, either Of en-
ployees OF employers, but all persons in
the particular industry represented by
union, whether or not belonging to the
union, are subject to the decision Of the
court with respect to rates OF wages, con-
ditions of labor, and other matters. Any
infringement OF the decision renders the
offender liable to heavy penalties, the
maximum being G10O and all fines being
paid to the union affected, This provision
naturally encourages unionists to institute
proceedings even in trivial cases,
In compliance with the provisions of the
act almost every branch Of industrial oc-
cupation, except those connected with
mining other than coal, grazing and agri-
culture. has now its own union, with the
result that the business of the Arbitration
Court has become so largely increased
that nearly year must elapse before many
OF the cases can be heard. This has rem
dered necessary the establishment of a
second court, which will probably be fol-
lowed by the creation of others.
This was to be expected. As a Sydney
paper remarks: Onion officers and labor
agitators must justify their existence.
Like military adventures. they find their
opportunity when war breaks out. Guer-
rilla campaigns serve their purpose just as
we'll as costly pitched battles-they are
easier to conduct than strikes. Disputes
multiply, the union leaders rejoice but the
Arbitration Court sees its work piling up
day by day
Yet, although tho powers Of the Arbi ra-
tion Court are greater than any possessed
by the highest judicial courts in the State,
strikes cannot be wholly prevented. Re-
Gently there was dispute in the Sydney
tailoring trade, which resulted in the courts
deciding that there should be alternative
rates Of pay.
The employers chose one rate. with the
result that the union leaders declared that
IL should not be accepted. Most of the
employees at once refused to work save
IN accordance with the demand of the
union.
This was followed by the employers
obtaining permission to prosecute the
union officials for assisting in strike, but
ultimately truce was declared, the en-
ployees returning to work pending re-
hearing Of the case by the court.
In the mean time the union has broken
fresh ground and has asked the court to
declare fixed rates of wages and condi-
tions Of employment throughout the State,
wholly irrespective of surrounding circum-
stances. Should the demand be complied
with the employers have decided to re-
move their factories into Victoria and
beyond the reach of the New
South Wales Court.
They declare that the continual inter-
ference Of the court with the processes of
is reducing their profits to
such an extent that it would not pay them
TO continue business operations.
As in other industries, employers are
by being compelled to en-
ploy members of industrial unions in prefer
ence to free laborers, the latter not being
by the court. For non-com-
pliance with this rule an employer was
fined e5 and costs.
The act Is hostile to non-union labor in
every shape and form. If a workman is too
old or too infirm TO earn the minimum wage
fixed by the court both he and his en-
poyer are liable to heavy fines if he works
for less unless they havH o'aviously OBJ
tanned the sanction of T." leirial union
having control Of the tra~, nj this sane
lion, it is almost needless to remark is
rarely given.
Everywhere the employer and the nom
,inonists find themselves surrounded by
pitfalls almost impossible to avoid, Among
/ he disputes now being heard is one con-
nected with tho introduction of safety
lamps in a coal mine.
Recent colliery disasters in the State have
induced more HldIldR'IT W every
possible precaution in the working of the
pits. In the case under notice, the men
refused to work with the safety lamps. on
the ground that they were unnecessary and
that their Use was intended as an excuse
for decreasing the ventilation Of the work.
ings'
Apart from this, it may be mentioned that
underlying the countless disputes with
which Australian colliery proprietors are
is desire to force the Common
wealth to nationalize the whole of the
coal mining properties in the several
States.
Another feature Of the situation is the
creation Of industrial monopolies
such as that OF the Sydney Wharf Laborers'
Union, of which Mr.. Sullivan, the State
Minister for Works, was formerly president,
This union possesses the sole right of dis
charging and shipping cargoes in Port
and any captain employing his
own crow in the work is liable to fine or
imprison nent.
He has no control over the uniorsts.
Ii they dawdle over their work he cannot
interfere. During the time the unionists
are on board the ship the captain is mere
cipher.
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