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SI BIKE AT ROBERT DIXSON &
CO.'S TOBACCO WORKS.
THE TWISTERS GO OUT ON
PRINCIPLE."
To day, according to a notification made
yesterday to Mr. A. J. Diamond, the manager
of the Conqueror Tobacco Works at Fremantle,
this twisters employed in that establishment
go out on strike. The alleged
cause of the refusal of the men to work is a
reduction in the rates paid for twisting a
line koo Arn to the trade as "tans." There
are 15 twisters employed in the factory, all
of whom, it is stated, belong to the Tobacco
Twisters Union of Australia. The reduction
in the price paid for twisting " tens "
(pieces which weigh ten to the pound)
amounted to 5 per cent, on the price which
has hitherto been paid at Fremantle, and Mr.
Dixon, during a recent visit to Fremantle,'
proposed this, in order, we are informed, to
assimilate the price more closely to that paid
in Adelaide factories. Mr. Diamond, the
manager for Robert Dixson & Co. at Fremantle,
assures our representative that even
after the five per cent, reduction is made the
twisters are receiving 12 per cent, more for
this particular line than their fellow
unionists are paid in Adelaide or Sydney
factories. It is not stated how the
men are paid in Melbourne factories. Mr.
Diamond's statement in plain figures
means that a twister of "tens" in an
Adelaide factory might earn £3 per week,
while at Fremantle, under the reduced rate,
he might earn £3 2s. 3d. In this case the
men have their strike on the principle of
opposing any red uo tion in rates, irrespective
of those that may be paid elsewhere. The
men, Mr. DUmmd states, have had full time
work at the factory continually, and they
offered to accept the reduced rate if the
firm guaranteed to make no more reductions
or take on any apprentices during the next
four years. The guarantee was refused,
tin firm basing its objection upon the impossibility
of providing for so long a term
and upon the fact, as is stated, that they
entered into an agreement with the Union
men in October last that if employees were
required the Union should have 30 days'
notice, and that failing the arrival of Union
men the firm would be at liberty to take on
apprentices. This guarantee, though never
brought into operation, remains. in the
course of a conversation with Mr. Diamond
last night, our representative questioned
him upon. the Unionist aspect of the difficulty,
Mr. Diamond's views as a pronounced trades
unionist being well known. In reply Mr.
Diamond said, "I have ever been a supporter
of unionism, both as regards workmen and
employer, but the difficulty I consider to be
unionism run mad. I believe the men are
completely in the wrong. I have told them
so, and I believe that the Trades and Labour
Council at Adelaide will tell them that the
strike is unjustifiable."
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