This week in history: 1949 national coal strike

On August 15, 1949 a national coal strike by Australian miners ended after Labour premier Ben Chifley used military force to break the strike.

The miners had been demanding a pay rise, a shorter working week, and better conditions in the pits. Two days after the strike began, the Labour government passed legislation making it illegal to give financial support or credit to striking miners or their families.

On July 5, 1949, union officials were ordered to hand over union funds, and the next day the headquarters of the miners' union and the Communist Party of Australia were raided. Several union officials were sentenced to jail terms.

Chifley said, "The Reds must be taught a lesson" and at the beginning of August he sent 2500 scab labourers into the coal fields to break the strike. It was the first time during peacetime that Australian military forces were used to break a trade union strike.
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Alex Miller

From Green Left Weekly, August 10, 2005.

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From GLW issue 637