Australia's oldest major export industry has just come"* heuDth
a pointless, futile strike, which lasted eleven weeks.
The wool industry has been disrupted around Australia and around
the world because of the way in which a claim by the
Storemen and Packers' Union was handled in the Arbitration
Commission, and because the union refused to accept the final
decision made by the Full Bench of the Commission.
The Government had hoped the normal arbitral processes would
bring the dispute to an end. The Government became involved
after it was clear that one large union was employing the
tactic of dividing the industry so that only sections of it
felt the brunt of a national strike. Within a week of the
Government's involvement, the strike was over. The industry
is now actively engaged in catching up with its delayed
shipments and lost orders.
For the men involved there has been an enormous loss of wages.
In Melbourne and Sydney, members of the Storemen and Packers'
Union lost a total of 45 working days, as well as the
opportunity to work at overtime or penalty rates during weekends.
For these 400 workers, it will take about 10 years for them
to make up their lost pay. For another 1,400 members of the
Storemen and Packers' Union the loss of wages because of
shorter stoppages was less, but it is nevertheless heavy. In the
meantime, union officials continue to be paid.
The wool dispute is a reminder that it is always worthwhile
to take a stand on principle against the bullying of trade
union officials.
In New South Wales, the life of the community is under the
threat of industrial action in the oil industry from the
Transport Workers' Union. There is chronic industrial trouble
in New South Wales, arising not only from the activities of
trade union leaders, but also from the weakness of the
Wran Labor Government.
Mr. Wran has demonstrated to the trade unions that if they
bring pressure, he will give in. His industrial policy is simple:
it is to buy time by surrendering to trade unions without paying
any heed whatsoever to the consequences, either for the rest of
the country or for the future. He puts public relations
before principle. / 2
I-19RORY r/ LX;-
2
This climate of industrial permissiveness which Mr. Wran
has created in New South Wales is one which affects the
whole country, as trade union leaders move in other States
to match the-gains they have made in New South Wales.
In New South Wales the issue in the current dispute is that
of the rights of an individual. Mr. Leon Laidely is a
self-made man running a small business who has been caught
between a large oil corporation and a large union. They
reached an agreement which cut of f his supplies.
If two corporations had agreed to refuse to supply a third
party,-it would be outside the law. Should not the same
principle apply when the agreement is between a big
company and a big union?
It is unfortunate for Mr. Laidely that he operates in a State
where the Premier puts publicity ahead of good Government.
The State Government has power to take action to ensure
proper trading conditions for small businessmen like
Mr. Laidely. Mr. Wran could have acted. He chose not to.
The Government has succeeded in bringing together all the
parties to this dispute, including Mr. Laidely, in thle desire
to see a settlement which takes into account the interests
of all parties and not just the Transport Workers' Union
and the oil companies.
The Government has a duty to uphold the rights of individuals
and a duty to maintain an effective industrial relations
framework. It is always possible to solve disputes by giving strikers
what they ask for. Because of wider and fundamental
implications for the Australian economy, disputes must be
endedi irn a responrj apid es; mi prr
The price of peace today should not be more industrial strife,
higher inflation and greater unemployment tomorrow.
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