The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-01-14
In Australia
By J. RYAN

Mall A few months ago, Judge
Beeby of the Federal Arbitration
Court refused to hear the case for
new award of the Waterside Workers
Federation, because the Federation
had not altered its rules to conauem
with the Courts requirements; which
means to conform with the bosses de-
sires.
AS it was two years since the
Waterside Horkers had first filed the
claims, they were, naturally, very in
dignant at the Judges action. They
thereupon decided that Waterside
workers would refuse to do any over
time until the Judge consented to hear
the case. They also decided that
they would only attend one pickup"
a day instead of 2 as formerly. AS
this is the busiest period of the year,
the waterside workers tactics caused
much inconvenience to the ship
owners.
Threaten Lockout.
After about weeks of the "no-
overtime" strike, the employers issued
an ultimatum threatening to lockout
all waterside workers if they per-
sisted in refusing to work overtime.
The Waterside workers were not
bluffed, however, and told the ship
owners to do their worst. The ship
owners, who were evidently deter
mined to smash the Waterside Work
ers' Federation, then locked-out the
whole of the waterside workers of
Australia. With the exception of the
Commonwealth Line and one snall
company outside of the Combine, the
shipowners, both interstate and inter-
national, were united to defeat the
workers.
The newly-formed Australian Coun-
Gil of Trade Unions took the dispute
over and interceded with the court,
urging that the waterside workers
case be gone into Immediately. After
some haggling, the judge agreed to
do this, no doubt wishing to protect
the rest of the employing class of
, Australia from the industrial turmoil
that the shipowners were anxious to
precipitate.
This dispute has clearly shown the
need for closer organization in the
transport industry and the N. S. w.
Labor Council, striking while the iron
is hot, has requested the Australian
: Council of Trade Unions to call a
conference of all transport unions in
Australia for the purpose of bringing
about closer unity.
Unemployment is very serious in
Australia at the present time. Not
wlthstanding the misery that unem-
. ployment is causing among the work
ers, the governments of the Common
i wealth are still importing thousands
OF surplus slaves from overseas; their
policy being to cause such an over
supply of labor that the workers will
: agree to reduction in their wages
| and frightening of their working
, hours.
According to reliable reports, the
J approximate number Of unemployed
in the various states is as follows:-
; New South Wales, 10000; Victoria,
10000; S o t h Australia, 5000;
Queensland, 5000; Western Australia,
r 1000; Tasmania, 600.
In three states a good agitation is
being carried on by unemployed
workers. In Sydney, particularly, eff
fective demonstrations have taken
, place. These demonstrations have
taken the form of street marches.
slave auctions, interruption of Parlia-
mentary proceedings from the gallery,
5 booking meals up to the Premier, and
: storming the Premier's office. The
> unemployed in Sydney have a union
/ OF their own, which is affiliated to the
: Labor Council.
In Melbourne the unemployed have
/ demonstrated fairly well, but accord
: ing to reports they do not receive the
cooperation that they expect from
the Trade Union Movement. This is
: unfortunate, because the unemployed
workers and those in work should
create united front to meet the At
tacks of the employers.
Rations Increased.
In South Australia demonstrations
have taken place, with the result that
rations have been increased, and the
Premier has refrained from carving
out the intended wholesale dismissals
in the railroad service.
New South Wales Government
Since the defeat Of the Labor Govern
ment and the return of the National
list Party to office in N. S. w., the
workers have been viciously attacked.
not only by the government itself, bus
by the employers who have been en-
couraged to attack the workers owinr
to their indifference and apathy in
allowing Nationalist Government to
occupy the Treasury benches.
Within six weeks the government
has reduced the rations doled out to
the unemployed, has closed down gov
eminent relief works-thereby throw
ing more workers out of employment;
has sacked all of the factory inspec-
tors appointed by the Labor Govern