50th Anniversiary:
WHEN UNION POWER FREED CLARRIE O’SHEA
Burkes Room, Red Brick Hotel, 83 Annerley Road, Woolloongabba
Sunday, April 28, 2019 at 2 PM – 4 PM
Speakers:
Michael Clifford: Assistant General Secretary, Queensland Council of Unions
Phil Griffiths: Labour historian
In May 1969, Clarrie O’Shea, the Victorian State Secretary of the Tramways Union, was jailed for refusing to pay fines arising from strike action in defiance of the Penal Powers.
His jailing was met with mass strike action across the country. O’Shea was freed, the Penal Powers were broken and the clear right to strike was re-established, ushering in a period of self confident campaigning by Australian unions during the 1970’s. During this period we won important improvements in annual leave, sick leave and other conditions, as well as large pay rises.
This meeting will discuss these historical events and consider there relevance for today. Please join us.