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Dreaming of Tomorrow: Labour & Work
Bitter Strikes
Many Ipswich families were caught up in the Queensland Railway Strike of 1948 - a long and bitter dispute which lasted from 3 February to 6 April. The railway workers were protesting at the Industrial Court’s delays in processing a log of claims.
Some of the bitterness arose because the Premier, Ned Hanlon, was a Labor man and a former railway man himself. Hanlon refused to negotiate directly with railway workers, insisting they keep within the arbitration system.
In Ipswich, the rail strike led to many coal miners being stood down, throwing an extra 1800 men out of work. Mass meetings were held outside the Railway Workshops and at the Wintergarden Theatre.
Every train in Queensland stopped running and buses struggled to provide a commuter service. As the state ground to a halt, Hanlon declared a State of Emergency and the railway men were ordered back to work, but most refused to do so.
Much of the comment about the strike blamed Communist agitators and there was violence in Brisbane during a protest. There were no major disturbances in Ipswich, although police had to patrol the railway Roundhouse after a few workers obeyed the order to return to work. There was also some picketing. The strike ground on for two months and ended with little gain for either side.
The following year, a national strike of coal-miners was called over claims for long-service leave and a 35-hour week. Once again, Ipswich miners were out of work and once again, Communist agitators were blamed. Hanlon made a radio broadcast fiercely attacking the Communists.
The Chifley Federal Labor Government declared a State of Emergency. Power was restricted, shops had to use hurricane lamps and some businesses including the Ritz cinema were forced to close
Most of the miners at Rosewood defied the strike and continued to work. These were mostly family-owned businesses who declared themselves opposed to Communism. The mines were picketed by strikers, and 30 police were sent from Brisbane for protection. Many of the Rosewood miners travelled from Ipswich by bus and on their return each day, were greeted by a reception committee of more picketers and police. The coal was transported by truck, escorted by two motorcycle police and the Ipswich police vehicle known as “the Grey Ghost”.
During the strike, Opposition leader Robert Menzies came to Queensland as part of his election campaign and held meetings at Ipswich and Rosewood, congratulating the Rosewood miners on “the blow dealt to the Communists”. The strike extended from 27 June to 15 August with no immediate success, but in September 1949, the Coal Industry Tribunal granted long-service leave for miners.
