50 years ago

THE Portland Trades and Labor Council (PTLC) has called on Hamilton City Council to hold back dismissal notices for employees it plans to put off before Christmas. The PTLC has protested against council’s plan to sack 20 employees because the move will add to the strain of already rising unemployment in the Hamilton district. The PTLC claims this unemployment rise has been caused by cutbacks of staff and closures by a number of firms and industries. It has also called on the Municipal Employees’ Union, which represents council outdoor staff, to act urgently. The union council presently has 25 member unions operating in a wide area of Western Victoria. Delegates of the PTLC met in Hamilton on Tuesday night.