The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-11-10
The Situation in Australia

liar scheme is in operation in Queensland where
the wages for such workers are three pounds a
week for married men and two pounds ten
shillings for Others
The vast majority of the trade unions officials
are in the same category They have made no
attempt whatever to rally the workers for a
real fight against the bosses attack They have
confined their activities to futile arguments in
the Arbitration Court and are doing their ut
most to persuade workers that this is not the
time to fight.
Because of the pacifist propaganda Of the
labor politicians and the bulk of the Trade
Union officials, the bosses have been able to
go from victory to victory with practically no
opposition. The meat workers at the Abbatone-
sar Sydney took strike action against the 48
hour week but after two days the fight was
iquidated In Broken Hill the bakers and ware
housemen took strike action against the 4S hour
week and gained a temporary victory
There is likely to be a big fight at Broken
Hill in the course of few weeks. The Metal
Mine Companies have submitted to the miners
a demand for 171a per cent reduction in
wages The miners about 5000 in number, have
a very militant record, Indignantly rejected the
proposal The companies thereupon gave three
months notice of the termination of the pres
ent agreement. 1t is obvious, that at the ex-
piration of three months another attempt will
be made to reduce wages. I feel confident that
the miners fight solidly irrespective of any adj
vice that their officials may give them. Yet
add that these miners are in the coalminers
organization, the official Of which sabotaged the
fight of the coal miners during the recently
concluded lockout on the northern fields.
Practically the only section Of the workers
which has resisted the capitalist offensive by
large scale strike action is the shearers who are
now engaged in strike against the 20 per cent
wage reduction ordered by the Federal Arbit-
ration Court. This fight is being conducted un-
der rank and file leadership, without the sup
port and in opposition to the wishes of officials
or their organization, the Australian Workers
Union. The office of this under after deliber-
ating for week decided that, while the in
dividual members are justified in bargaining for
better conditions than those laid down in the
new award, no union principle would be broken
by accepting the wage reduction"
Although. as previously mentioned the unem-
ployed army is growing to enormous proper
tons. their activities have not been very well
coordinated. Sporadic demonstrations have been
held in the various capital cities and have been
srnoothed up by the police. Action has been
taken also by the more militant elements In some
places to prevent evictions. But there has been
no strong organization of the unemployed with
planned and clear cut program.
Last week, however, delegates marched from
Gessnock. northern coalfields; Lithgow, west
ern coalfield. and Wollongong, southern coal
field to Sydney and met in conference with dele
gates from large number Of organizations At
this conference definite organization, the IN
employed Workers Movement was established
and the policy of action was adopted. Fifteen
of the delegates were arrested during the con-
ference on the charge of damaging fiat from,
which an unemployed worker had been eHcted.
Last week very representative conference
Of delegates from trade unions and other work.
ing class organizations. met in Sydney. on the
initiative Of the Communist Party for the pur-
pose of setting up a Hands Off India movement
1t is intended by this movement to carry on a
widespread campaign in order to prevent any
troops. munitions or other material being sent
to India for use against the Indian workers and
| peasants