Boot Trade Dispute July 20, 1895.

*THE WORKER*

BRISBANE, JULY 20, 1895.

Boot Trade Dispute.

After nine weeks of one of the grandest struggles in defence of unionism and in the maintenance of the rights of workmen to have some say in the conditions under which they have to work, the members of the Boot Trade Union are to be congratulated on their splendid muster of last Monday night.

Marshalling at the Trades Hall, Turbot street, and headed by the City brass band (mostly members of the union), about 400 of the men on strike marched down Queen-street to that historic spot at the corner of Wharf-street, where a public meeting was held. About 1500 persons were present, and anyone could easily recognise how sympathetic the crowd were towards the men so patiently resisting for nearly nine weeks the unjust demands of the employers.

The President of the union (A. W. Stenner) occupied the chair – at least he acted as chairman as there was no chair to occupy, the side of the waggon being used as a seat. Speeches detailing the events in connection with the strike were delivered by D. Bowman and D. Levey, members of the union. Labour Members Reid, Browne and Dunsford also addressed the meeting, complimenting the men on the stand they were making, and strongly advising the employers in the boot trade to meet the men in conference; also advocating the necessity for compulsory conciliation and arbitration. A collection was taken up at the close of the meeting, and cheers given for the men on strike.

The WORKER would again urge upon all wage earners, whether in the western districts or along the coast to do all in their power to help the men. We know times have been hard, but the smallest mite given to them enables the giver by having done something to defend labour against unscrupulous attacks. The bootmakers have frustrated all attempts to weaken their ranks, and the many bribes and inducements offered their mates down South have failed to tempt them. “Starving the bootmakers into submission” will ever be remembered as a heartless boast made by an unreasonable handful of employers, and checked by the determination of the men backed by the generous sympathy and help of all who love Justice.

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Incidents of the Strike.

For over two weeks one of the bootmakers on strike has defied all the efforts of a landlord's agent to evict him. He was one of the four victims who had the bailiffs put in about three week's ago, all of whom were formerly in the employ of E.T. Neighbour. He has been served with a legal document telling him to quit. It seems as through it will take a regiment of soldiers to shift him.

While Mat. Reid was speaking at the meeting on Monday night an unknown friend called Dave Bowman off the lorry and gave him £1 towards the Strike Relief Fund and would not disclose his identity; and we know for a fact that one wharf labourer gave 3d. out of a week's wages of 1s. 9d. This is the spirit that keeps faith inhuman goodness alive.

Five men have come up from the South during the past week. Only one is at work and he's no good, but anything does in time of strikes. The other four regret coming; they were misled by being told the strike was over, all the men were rushing the factories, and wages were not being reduced. When they arrived and found all the factories empty, except for a few scabs and a number of boys, they swore at having been fools enough to take for truth anything told them by a master or a master's agent. Another concert and dance in aid of the Strike Relief Fund takes place on Monday next, July 22^nd. The St. Crispin Minstrels will again entertain the friends and sympathisers of the bootmakers who are expected to fill the Centennial Hall on the occasion. The last two were splendid financial successes, and an enjoyable evening can be spent with an added pleasure by the knowledge of the good cause the money is for.

The few “free” bootmakers that have been imported were housed in one of the roughest boarding houses in Brisbane.

The workers of the Deep Lead, Pentland, last week held their first A.W.U. social, which turned out a pleasing musical success, being an agreeable innovation on the usual weekly socialistic debates. The music was supplied by Mr. J. Rogers (Apollo orchestra, Charters Towers) and Mr. N. Nielson. A.W.U. socials in the “piping times of peace” do much good in bringing unionists and others together and considerably help on the object “Socialism in our time.” At the conclusion of the concert a collection was taken up in aid of the bootmakers on strike in Brisbane, and the sum of £2 was collected. This makes the collection to date on the Lead in aid of this fund amount to £5, which has been forwarded to the strike committee. Mr. S. Neary, union bootmaker on the Lead, has canvassed with energy this appeal amongst the miners. The union librarian thanks Mr. George Jackson, M.L.A., for donation of books, also “Merrie England” and copies of Brisbane papers.