1978 was the first year we carried the Red Contingent banner. There were 12,000 people behind us including the socialist parties, the Latin Americans, the Campaign Against Nuclear Power, and the Civil Liberties Coordinating committee with their Unite in oppositionto State and Federal governments banner plus the anarchists and Friends of the Earth.
The Red Contingent continued to be strong until the SEQEB dispute in 1985. After that defeat, everyone seemed to be absorbed into the union contingents except an increasingly smaller group that marched at the back. We had a bit of a boost when all the wharfies were sacked by Chris Corrigan during the 1998 MUA – here to stay dispute.
Edmund Cocksedge’s Super 8 footage of May Day march down Queen Street Brisbane Magan-djin, 1978.
The march was dominated by protests against the Joh Bjelke Petersen ban on street marches and denial of democratic rights to organise educate and agitate. The Queensland State Government effectively banned opposition to uranium mining and export and had already arrested thousands of people marching in defiance of the government. The Queensland union movement joined the struggle in December 1977. The groundwork of opposition was organised by the civil liberties coordinating committee immediately after the ban on the fourth of September 1977.
The trade union leadership refused to hear from women’s groups and a Chilean trade unionist on the Mayday platform in the exhibition grounds. The platform was stormed and Meghan Martin, from the civil liberties coordinating committee, spoke to the huge crowd of thousands of marches against the government.
The Seamen’s Union, Transport Workers Union, Musicians Union of Australia, Union Women’s Committee, the Communist Party, the Socialist Party Brisbane anarchists, and the Builders Labourers Federation are all shown in the film .
The march was dominated by and the largest contingent being the opposition to the state government led by the CLCC.
This footage was produced by Edmund Cocksedge and is silent.
It was digitised with support of donors through the Queensland Library Foundation Reel Rescue campaign.Part of: Edmund Cocksedge home movies (Accession 32661, Item 14)MMS ID: 99183885619802061
To see more about this item and the Edmund Cocksedge Home Movie
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