West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Tuesday 6 September 1904, page 7


WAGES ON THE GOLDFIELDS. TROUBLE AT YUNDAMINDERA A HUNDRED MINERS ON STRIKE. AN UNREGISTERED UNION'S IRRESPONSIBILITY. Morgans. September 5. All the men employed on the Potosi mine, at Yundamindera (The Granites), with the exception of the carpenters and blackmiths, went out on strike when the notice of a reduction of wages was posted on the mine. About 100 men are said to be out. The Granites branch of the A.W.A. has not been registered under the Arbitration Act, as last year the members of that branch and those of the A.M.A. branch at the same centre made an application for registration. It isstated that 85 names were included in the application of the A.W.A. and' only 15 in that of the A.M.A. and that the application of the A.M.A. was granted, as it was received a day earlier than that of the A.W.A. The position now is that, as practially all the men at the Potosi mine are members of the A.W.A. Branch. which has not been registered. they are free to come out on strike. The owners of the mine offeredto allow the men to return to work and to give a guarantee that the wages granted in an Arbitration Court award would be made retrospective. The offer was not accepted, as it was stated that an award would, necessarily date from the time of the application to cite a case, which would probably be done by the 8th inst., when the reduced scale will come into force. So far matters are quiet at the scene of the strike. The miners at Morgans and in other Northern districts are proposing to cite a case for the Arbitration Court. The question is arousing great interest among all workers on the Northern fields.