
Issue No 56		02 June 2000

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History

The Long March for Justice

Compiled by Lucy Taksa

Against the backdrop of the Walk for Reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge that took place last Sunday, it is worthwhile recognising that trade unionists were actively promoting the issue decades ago.

The following extracts are taken from The Railroad, which was produced by the Australian Railways Union and the Eveleigh News, which was produced by the Eveleigh shop committee.

The Railroad, 8 March 1938

Lecture by Aboriginal Members Invited to Hear the Story of our Coloured Comrade's Exploitation [letter] from School of Modern Writers, PO Chambers, 333 George St "...Mr Ferguson, an aboriginal and spokesman at the recent conference of that race, was present at the meeting of this School on Feb21. He attended in answer to a letter sent to the Aboriginal's Society, per medium of Mr M Sawtell. The letter referred to, was a tentative effort to make contact with these colored fellow-Australians, and the prompt response in the shape of Mr Ferguson, was something more than the School had dared to hope for. Notwithstanding [the arranged lecture] ... it was decided ... to ask Mr Ferguson to speak for a few minutes, on matters vital to the aboriginal race. Keeping strictly to the time allotted him, and in a manner worthy of the best of the many able speakers who have addressed this School, Mr Ferguson gave a brief outline of the deplorable conditions under which our coloured fellow Australians are living. After his speech it was unanimously agreed to ask Mr Ferguson to deliver a lecture to the School, and this he consented to do. The lecture will be given at the above address, on Monday, April 4, at 8pm. Non-members are invited. Yours for the spread of Culture, HF Collingwood, Sec. School of Modern Writers

The Railroad, 14 March 1939:

State Council Minutes

' ... Committee for Aboriginal Citizenship - Appeal for Donation

Letter from this Committee, dated 17/2/39 - Moved by HB Martin, seconded by FG Byrne, and carried.

'That �1 be donated to the appeal of this Committee to assist it in organising for citizenship rights for Australian Aborigines.'

The Railroad, 10 December 1943:

White Australia Policy by P Y. Bunyan,

"A number of Australian newspapers have castigated and denounced recent utterances or Dr. Lloyd Ross, and have advocated his removal from the Post War Reconstruction Council, but this White Australia policy is a very debatable question, and much could be said regarding the pros and cons of the subject.

Personally, I think the proposal to exclude all coloured races from Australia is as impracticable as it is unjust; it is condemned alike by commonsense and Christian Charity. Even the most bigoted White Australians do not go so far as to advocate deportation or destruction of many thousands of aborigines from whose ancestors we forcibly took this country, and therefore, unless they believe that we shall kill the blacks in time with civilisation, they cannot look forward to the complete realisation of their ideal.

...Today there is a need for true brotherhood, equality of man, and whether born, red, white, black or yellow let us all have regard for each other's rights and feelings."

Eveleigh News, 5 June1957:

New deal for Aborigines

'No "dinkum" Aussie will deny that one of the most shameful features of our Australian history has been the tragic treatment of our Aborigines. Although we all have a very bad conscience about our inhuman behaviour to-wards the original Australians, our authorities continue to deny them economic, social & political equality, & enforce their existence as an underprivileged minority in their own Country. The plight of the Tribal Aborigines is equally tragic, since vast areas of Tribal lands have been violated by the establishment of Rocket and Nuclear weapons testing ranges. The first essential step to-wards the solution of this urgent national problem is to end the present divided State authority & vest full power in the Commonwealth Government. Such a step requires a National petition to the Federal Government calling for a referendum of the people seeking power to amend the constitution. This petition was launched at a recent Town Hall meeting & is already circulating & being solidly supported in many Railway Workshops. The petition is sponsored by the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship, which organisation is dedicated to this specific work. The Australian Assembly for Peace is also very interested in the question because it was an important discussion topic at the recent National peace Assembly, & also because of the serious danger resulting from Nuclear tests scheduled to be held at Maralinga this year.

The Shop Committee has endorsed the aims of the Aboriginal- Australian Fellowship & also the very active interest in this question by the Australian Peace Assembly & is at present negotiating with both bodies for the provision of speakers to address Eveleigh Loco Employees. Similar successful action was carried out by the Carriage Works Shop Committee. This Committee also organised a "Black and White" Concert which was most successful & also issued an appeal for financial assistance for the Fellowship & the Assembly for Peace, which was outstandingly supported & resulted in over 50 pounds being donated. Eveleigh Committee proposes to follow this course. The Aboriginal-Australian fellowship is a very broad and representative organisation as the following list of Patrons will show: Dame Mary Gilmore, Eric Baume, G.O'Grady, Dr. A. Capell, Anthropology Dept., Sydney University & Dr. W. Wearn B.D.S., D.M.C, D.D.Sc.

The Aboriginal People are Australians --- much more so than we are ourselves --- they deserve all the help & assistance we Railwaymen & others can give them in their fight for full Citizenship. The Shop Committee earnestly appeals to all to support future Committee actions & policy on this vital matter.'

Poem:

Driven from their Tribal Lands

By men who plan for war

Into arid lands around them

To hunger pain & more

Proud in Tribal Legend

On sacred ground they tread

Communing with their spirits

Their totems & their God

So let us raise our voices

In answer to their pleas

To make them equal Citizens

In this Country of the free

Eveleigh News, 7 November1962:

Aboriginal Rights

'Workers in these shops are to be congratulated on the manner in which they signed recent petitions for the removal of discriminatory clauses, oppressive to our Aboriginal Australians, from the Australian constitution'.

   Contact our History Editor, Dr Lucy Taksa

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  Issue 56 contents

Interview: When the War is Over
Teachers Federation chief Sue Simpson has just come through the industrial dispute of a lifetime. But where to now for her members?

Politics: The Beazley Manifesto
Read the full transcript of Kim Beazley's Fraser Lecture develiered this week, where he unveiled Labor's new industrial relations platform.

Unions: Dudded on the Dock of the Bay
Until a few weeks ago Allan and Beverley Crelley had never ever heard of SERCO the big London multinational that specialises in winning contracts from governments committed to outsourcing their workers.

History: The Long March for Justice
Against the backdrop of the Walk for Reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge that took place last Sunday, it is worthwhile recognising that trade unionists were actively promoting the issue decades ago.

International: UK Unions Turn the Corner
Union membership is on the rise for the first time in 20 years, indicating an early response to union recognition legislation set to come into effect next month.

Work/Time/Life: Flexible Clerks Save Hours
The Australian Services Union has successfully blocked an attempt by wholesaler Davids Limited to force clerical staff at the company's Blacktown office from flexible working hours to a standard 38 hour week.

Review: Who Really Won the War?
It might be being pulped for a reference to serial-suitor Peter Costello, but 'Waterfront' has sparked some lively debate about our recent industrial history.

Satire: Gosper's New Torch Role
A week after he was excluded from the Olympic torch relay as a result of public criticism, Kevan Gosper has been reinstated by SOCOG President Michael Knight for a special project.

» Long Service Leave Push for Short-Term Workers

» Carr Asked to Act on Fiji Crisis

» Major Blow to Government Outsourcing

» Beazley Blocks Contracts as Reith Hits New Wall

» Carr Makes Formal Offer on Olympics Pay

» Surfing Carnivals Highlights Beach Threat

» Mail Stopped Over Junk Deal

» CBA Staff To Strike Over Queues and Abuse

» Women's Bureau to Stay in DIR

» Joy's Winter of Discontent

» Advocate Pushes Pattern Bargaining

» Nike Versus The Workers

» New Safety Laws A First in Australia

» Workers March for Reconciliation

» Labour Movement Mourns Loss of Neil Marshall (11th June 1943 - 31st May 2000)