Strike at Avon Downs June 10,1895.

*THE WORKER*

BRISBANE, JULY 20, 1895.

Strike at Avon Downs.

ED. WORKER – We, the shearers and labourers at Avon Downs, started work on Saturday, 1^st June, and we worked on peaceably up to Friday, when the labourers sent down for some sugar. The manager, Mr. W. Govett, sent up one bag of what we call “Kanaka, very best” - that is the worst of black coal tar sugar. The men refused to use the sugar, and went up in a body – all but one man. (This man was one of the men who worked here last year for 25s. when others were getting 25s. per week and 5s. bonus.)

The labourer's representative complained to the manager of the low rate of wages and the long hours the pickers-up and penners-up had to work. These latter had, after the shearers knocked off, to sweep out all the pens and yards in the woolshed. This means that they are at work from before sunrise to after sunset.

The manager said he could not give 30s. per week as he had only a certain sum to cover shearing expenses. On the Monday morning following the manager's representative told the labourers' representative (a picker-up) that there was no more work on the station for him. The picker-up then went to the station for a settlement and the boss was about to settle with him when the man demanded a week's pay in lieu of a week's notice. The boss then said that Mr. Foley (the manager's representative) had no authority to sack him as he could find him work striking for the blacksmith. The man objected to go back to work, saying. “I've been sacked once – that is enough for me.” The boss objected to settle up, and stopped the man's hard-earned week's pay in the bargain. When the discharged man came up to the shed and told his working mates what had taken place they declared their intention of ceasing work until he got his money.

The shearers continued to shear until they were beginning to get bogged in wool. They were shearing lambs at the time. As the boss of the board could not keep the shearers clear of wool and yard up and pen up, there was nothing for shearers to do. The shearers then interviewed the boss, who said he would not have men on his station who had once struck work. The labourers were then all paid off. When the boss of the board was asked his reasons for sacking the labourers' rep. he said

the man had too much to say. The boss of the board told the manager that he had not sacked the man – a queer contradiction.

The shearers then gave the manager to understand that anyone who went on as a labourer under the circumstances would be considered a rat, and that the shearers would not shear with him.

Up to the present (June 10) the manager has not intimated what his intentions are. The shearers held a meeting in the shearers' hut and decided they would not shear with the labourers unless they received 30s. per week, also that in the event of the manager not coming to terms they would go down the creek, camp, and watch that no man goes to work under 30s. per week.

A few more words, regarding our reasons for demanding 30s. per week. Here are a few of of the prices we have to pay for goods:

Elastic side boots on Avon Downs, 19s. per pair; same boots, only 50 miles further, 13s. per pair; in Camooweal, towards Burketown, 13s. per pair.

Moles, 10s. per pair, Avon Downs; Camooweal, 8s. 6d. per pair.

Bullocks, £3 each (the pick supposed); Carrandotta and Rocklands, £2 (the pick in reality).

Common cotton socks, 2s. per pair.

Brown sugar, 5d. per lb.

I therefore maintain, before men can pay those extortionate prices, they should receive at least 30s. per week.

The shearers are going to obtain a settlement and camp on the creek until the manager concedes the following requests: To put on the rouseabouts' cook and to sack the one rouseabout that did not strike; also to pay 30s. per week on the morning of the 12^th June.

The one rouseabout who would not strike went down to the boss of the station, after a little persuasion, and demanded a settlement. The boss would not let him go, simply because he wanted to show us how pig-headed he could be. - GOT REASONS.