Boot Trade Dispute June 29 1895.

*THE WORKER*

BRISBANE, JUNE 29, 1895.

Boot Trade Dispute.

The strike in the boot trade still continues. Since the 21^st may, when the manufacturers wrote to the operatives, declining to confer with them, neither side has communicated with the other, so the war still continues, and the bitterness which a long continued strike engenders is beginning to show itself.

Surely the employers should by now see the necessity of bring the struggle to a close. All their efforts to disorganise the men have failed. Not one man of the 400 who came out has broken away from the ranks. Why prolong the fight? Why not meet representatives of the men in conference and settle in a peaceful manner all matters connected with the dispute?

Looked at from a reasonable standpoint, the points fought for and morally won should be cede to the men.

The Leura arrived from Sydney on Monday. It was known there were a few bootmakers on board who had signed in Sydney to work for the manufacturers. A few of the unionists were down on the wharf with the intention of speaking to the men; but just before the boat arrived the manufacturers' association, in the person of Joe Collings, came on the scene, and, acting under instructions from Joe, the police removed all bootmakers from the wharf. A few managed to dodge them, but the only person allowed up the gangway was the secretary of the Masters' Association, who seems to be a very privileged individual just now.

Nine came up altogether. Two came over to the union cab straight away. The other seven got in the vehicle hired by the bosses. They were urged by the unionists present to sign no agreement till they called at the Trades Hall and learnt all about the strike. They were then driven round to Fielder and Co.'s followed by the union men in their cab.

Out of the nine who came up only three are working. The other six have joined the union and pledged themselves to remain true to the last. They regretted coming, but now they were here they did not intend helping to down a body of men who were standing so firmly together.

The following incorrect circular is being forwarded to the boot dealers all over Queensland:

Brisbane Boot and Shoe manufacturers' Association.

Dear -----, You are doubtless aware that at the present time the Operatives Union are on strike against our various factories. Full particulars of the history of the trouble have already appeared in the daily press.

We desire however, to assure you that we have been very unwillingly forced into this struggle by the arbitrary and uncompromising action of our employes, and that we have made every reasonable and honourable effort to bring about a peaceful solution of the difficulty, unfortunately without success. We are, however, confident that a termination of the trouble will be very shortly reached, and in the meantime beg respectfully to solicit your kind indulgence.

Yours faithfully, &c.

(Here follow the names of the manufacturers.)

A wire has been received by the Boot Trade Union from their mates stating that the Sydney labour Bureau is being used to obtain men to steal the billets of the Brisbane strikers. The matter is being brought before the New South Wales Parliament.

One of the union pickets has been arrested for delivering handbills in front of John Hunter's boot shop at the corner of Wickham and Brunswick streets. The case was being tried before Mr. Pinnock when we went to press.

One of the half-dozen non-unionists at work was assaulted on his road home on Monday evening last. The WORKER desires to warn men in the South that feeling runs pretty high in this town at the present time.

At the last meeting of the A.W.U. In Brisbane the following resolution was carried:

“That the members of the A.W.U. be requested to refrain from purchasing boots at retail shops belonging to manufacturers who refuse to concede a conference to the bootmakers now on strike.”