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A.CT.U. RESENTMENT.
Union Leaders Not Consulted.
MELBOURNE, May 28.--Resent
ment of the action of the Prime
Minister (Mr Curtin) in gazetting
the "work or fight" regulations be
fore examining the possible reper
cussion in industrial circles was ex
pressed today by the president of
the ACTU (Mr A. ,. Monk). He
said he regretted that Mr Curtin
had not waited until the Govern
ment industrial conference" before
announcing arbitrary regulations
which prescribed penalties for work
era engaged in industrial stoppages
of any character. In the past Mr
Ourtin had gazetted Industrial re
gulations before consulting the
ACTU or the unions concerned and
then asked for endorsement after
the horse had bolted from the stable.
The trade unions movement, he
said, had been and stll was athxous
to co-operate with the Government
in preventing unwarranted and irre
sponsible stoppages of work, but it
believed that Mr Curtin should ad
here to an agreement to consult
union leaders on major matters of
Industrial policy. The new regula
tion had been referred to as a "work
or fight". regulation. What the
country and the Government needed
was solid work and not fight In the
Industrial field. Punitive regula
tions would not create an -ncentive
to work.
"I hope," Mr Monk said, "that the
Prime Minister will not endeavour
to take action to implement the re
gulation pending his discussion w. :
responsible industrial nimlons leaders
next month. I might ask how the
regulation or any decision by the
Prime Minister is going to deal with
the 'Industrial baiter' who usually
makes himself manifest during the
months preceding a Federal election.
It is regrettable that many workers
succumb to the machinations of the
'tool' of the people who is anxious
to bring discredit to a Labour Gov
emunent while a Federal election'Is
in the offing."
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