8/12/2023 0 Comments Black friday general strike![]() They issued permits to businesses allowed to carry on with restricted union labor. The unions organized to meet the food requirements. The next two days were spent on preparation. (Australian Labor Party) as its president, and J. This Combined Unions Committee (of the 43 unions) appointed a Strike Committee, with J. By 6:00 p.m., they decided to issue an ultimatum to Badger and the company. On Sunday, 28th of January, another meeting was held at the Trades Hall where 43 unions were represented. It had already been discussed in the Worker (the monthly journal of the Associated Workers of Queensland) serial of 1909, and of the general discussion in the Worker of January 20, 1912. The possibility of general strike rose to the surface. They all agreed that the structure of unionism was being attacked. This rebuff from Badger drew attention from many other organizations-delegates from waterside workers, railway guards, carters, amalgamated engineers, railway employees, butchers, bakers, certified engine drivers, seamen, coal workers, Australian Institute of Marine Engineers, and the Australian Workers Association attended the union meetings. Badger refused saying he was willing to talk with the employees, but not with unionists. ![]() Moir, a unionist, requested a conference between Badger and the Tramway Union. On Monday the 22nd, there was a notice in the daily press calling for the workers to report to work without badges, and those who did not show up would be seen as to have vacated their positions. Inspector O’Sullivan persuaded Badger to allow the use mounted force. Chill, only wanted to employ foot police in the beginning, but found it difficult to clear the roads for traffic. However, the praise soon disappeared as reinforcements, especially mounted men, came from the country. The police were present at these gatherings, and they were praised for their restraint. Many other large gatherings were held not only at the Square (not clear who held these meetings), but also at various parts of South Brisbane and at Red Hill during the following nights. That night, an estimated number of 10,000 people appeared in Market Square (now King George Square) to hear speeches from Federal and State Labour members and from the union leaders. The company was left short of trained staff. Most who were confronted chose the right to wear the badges. ![]() Badger addressed the wearers at the depot, and gave them the choice of removing the badges or not working. The tramway employees donned the union badges at an appointed time. On the 18th of January, 1912, a large crowd of sightseers appeared in Queens Street. The issue of not only the wearing of badges but also the right to join a union heightened in Brisbane, for neither Badger nor the workers would give in. Badger was particularly against the idea of unions and refused to allow his employees from forming any industrial unions. After complaints, Melbourne allowed the wearing of the badge, and Adelaide soon followed. ![]() The higher authority claimed the wearing of badges by unionists would intimidate the non-badge-wearers. In other parts of Australia, tramway employees in Melbourne and Adelaide faced similar opposition and they were forbidden to wear any sign of membership of the union. He refused to allow the formation of any industrial union among the company employees. Joseph Stillman Badger, an American, was its manager. The Brisbane tramways, located in Queensland, Australia, were owned by General Electric Company, a private British company.
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