Clarence and Richmond Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1889 - 1915), Saturday 8 November 1913, page 9


INDUSTRIAL MATTERS.

STRIKE AT STATE BRICK WORKS.

PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICIALS AND EQUALITY.

SYDNEY, Friday.-A strike occurred yesterday at the State brick and lime works at Botany. Thirty-five men out of 41 absented themselves. Later in the day a settlement was effected.

The three delegates appointed from the Sydney Labour Council to the con-ference of Trades and Labour Councils, to be held in Melbourne on November 15, left last night. They were President Fox, Secretary Kavanagh, M.L.C., and Mr. Duncan (Clerks' Union).

Last night the Labour Council execu-tive recommended that the Marine Motor-drivers' and Coxswains' Union be allowed to affiliate. Delegates from the Masters' and Engineers' Associationprotested that their union and the Fire- men men and Deckhands' Union would take in most of the members of the new body.

The matter was referred back to the executive. I Thc, council of thq^Public, Service Asr sociation .passed motions'^.having for their.-i object -the .granting to women, in the - Public'Service the same .rights :is grading.- and salary - increments, as . were allowed, to male officers in"; the clerical division, -provided they pass the - grade tests, which'1, shall include , business methods. ? . A ,motion favouring. ccrtain> positions.- bcingveqitally -open ' to women* and men, subject to the provisions- ofthc Public Service Act, was adopted.

The_ council of; the Publice Association are trying to. initiate a convention with, other bodies to , draft a bill for a Public .Service. superannuation fund. .1 ;

It was arranged that; a conference be-tween- . ¿he Steamship Owners' Associa-, tion and the Waterside AVorkcrs' Federa-tion bc held in'thc third week- in De-cember: Meanwhile , the existing ; conditions'iwill be: continued. It .is stated thata demandwill be - made for a.. minimum wage ..of as an hour for. wharf t workers, and 3s an hour,'overtime, . and higher rates : for North . Queensland» ports . on account of the-climatic differences. Other claims said to . - bc made are for in-creased minimum:.-pay'for-work on,".Sun-days, Christmas Day, Good Friday, and on Eight-hour Day, from 4s 6d ? an, hour

to ros.1 r ? :?- ?.. '?. '?- "

: As a result ; of : thc recent Shire emr

nloyecs' award, combined with" the short-age of funds, the Macquarie Shire'- has dispensed with the whole of its '^ main-tenance employees.' . Seven' gangs of men

have been-put off.