*THE
WORKER*
BRISBANE, JUNE 22, 1895.
Boot
Trade Dispute.
The masters' delegates appointed to recruit scabs from
the South returned last week Neddy Neighbour arrived on the Aramac on
Thursday last. Scheenheimer, the other recruiter, returned by rail.
It was known that Neighbour was returning by boat, and about 200 of
the men on strike went down to the wharf. A strong force of police
was present, but the orderliness of the strikers rendered their
presence unnecessary. In fact, the men had turned out more to give
Neddy a welcome home than to make any hostile demonstration against
the five scabs he had brought with him. The small number of scabs was
too insignificant to arouse much feeling in the minds of the men they
had come to rob of a living and help to crush.
Admittance to the wharf was refused to any of the known
strikers. Several who managed to pass the gate were spotted by Joe
Collings, the energetic secretary of the Boot Manufacturers'
Association, and pointed out to officials who quickly put them out.
In spite of this several members of the union managed to get on the
wharf. The whole of the manufacturers were allowed on the wharf
(privilege again) ready to shake hands and welcome their confreres,
and embrace the men who had come to save them The scene was quite
affecting. The blacklegs were smuggled out of the gates, bundled into
waggonettes, and driven to Scheenheimers' factory. Wonder how some of
the employers enjoyed the company they were in?
The trip of the scab recruiters turned out a miserable
failure. Their arrival in Sydney was known to Bob Harris, the boot
trade secretary down there, who worked splendidly on behalf of his
mates in Brisbane. In response to an advertisement, about a hundred
men turned up, ostensibly to engage for Brisbane, and results seemed
so promising that a wire was sent by the recruiters informing the
bosses in Brisbane, “Plenty of men. Soon return.” This was
followed by a letter, which our reliable dailies published: “Hundreds
of hands engaged. This will virtually end the strike.” Things by
this looked gloomy. Observe the sequel. The Aramac returned with only
five scabs on board (except the two employers). High hopes at
starting; gloomy disappointment at the end, and only five rats
cajoled to take the places of four hundred men.
Too much praise cannot be bestowed on the men down South
(especially Secretary Harris) for the energetic manner in which they
worked, and in spite of so many of them being out of employment. None
of the union men could be prevailed upon to come up and help to down
their mates here. The five non-unionists, who came up in the
Peregrine, soon joined the union, and a summons was issued against
one for breach of agreement. But the authorities didn't get him. Two
of the employers, accompanied by a policeman, actually came round to
the Trades Hall, and asked the secretary of the union where the man
was. They must have taken Strickland for a fool. The required
information was not forthcoming. The employers didn't get the man, so
the summons was generously withdrawn a few days after.
Melbourne was well looked after in order that any
efforts on the part of the two masters to secure labour down there
should be frustrated. The Melbourne secretary had been fully posted
with all news in connection with the strike, and Melbourne men were
in sympathy with the stand the Brisbane men were making against the
unjustifiable demands of the employers. They had been through the
mill themselves, and were now suffering from disorganisation. To
strengthen the efforts being put forth Mat Reid, member for Toowong,
went to Melbourne on behalf of the men in Brisbane, and was so well
up in the details of the dispute that the men in Melbourne actually
thought him a bootmaker. With such a strong ally it need hardly be
said that up to the present not one scab has been obtained from
Melbourne. While in Melbourne Mr. Reid addressed a meeting in the
open air on Sunday the 9th met, and told his audience that
Melbourne had in the past been a happy hunting ground for scab
labour, but hoped it would not be so in the present case. Mr. Reid
also addressed one of the largest meetings of the boot trade held for
some time, and laid the case before the trade with an earnestness
that soon convinced the men of the injustice of the employers'
demands. It was resolved by the meeting to thoroughly canvas all
shops on payday and render all financial assistance to the men on
strike. The loyalty displayed by the men in Sydney, Melbourne, and
Adelaide to their fellow craftsman in Brisbane will never be
forgotten in Queensland.
Some of the house to house visitors, masters and
managers, have received some severe rebukes in response to their
endeavours to induce men to break away from their mates and return to
work. In one instance-there's no need to mention names for fear of
injuring those visited-the boss entered the house, took note of the
scanty furniture, the lack of food, and looking round said to the
wife: “Things don't look too well here. Now don't you think it
would be better for your husband to come to work? See how much more
comfortable it would be for you!” The woman nobly replied; “I'll
bear all this and more. Rather than see my husband scab I'll take to
the washtub.”
In another case two managers drove up in a buggy. The
husband happened to be out and the wife was asked when he was likely
to return as they would call again. Divining their errand the wife
asked the managers' names. Upon being answered she said “What! Do
you want him to go to work as a white man or a scab, because if you
want him as a scab you needn't trouble to call again.” These are
only two instances to show the manufacturers are leaving no stone
unturned to wean the men from their allegiance to their mates, and
are resorting to every mean trick to win a fight they virtually lost
two weeks ago, and which only folly prompts them to prolong.
A certain landlady not many miles away from
Freudenburg's in Boundary street, who had as a bootmaker on strike,
waited upon him for the rent due. The striker said he could not pay
just then, but expected to be able soon to do so. The landlady
immediately increased the rent of the cottage to 9s. per week.
Friends of the tenant in question at once raised the few shillings
rent due, and he left the house, which is in Issac-street. The
landlady in question made a bad stroke, for the tenant next door to
the one she victimised gave a week's notice on hearing of her action.
The bootmakers intend holding another concert and dance
on Monday, July 1st, at the Centennial Hall. The last
concert held was a success financially and gave everyone who attended
such satisfaction, that at the request of a number of people it has
been decided to hold another. The same charge to enjoy a good
evening's entertainment. The St. Crispin's minstrels will make their
first appearance in negro melodies. People should secure tickets at
once, as a bumper house is expected.
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