One for all

The Drivers' award is important because it will have a trend-setting effect for many other unions. This particular sector of the working class fought long and hard to get a decent award, not just for themselves, but for thousands of other workers as well. When the Government responded to the settlement by stating it would use the Remuneration Act, the reply from unionists was immediate.

They recognised that this attack represented not only an attempt to split the ranks of the working class, but was also a two-fold attack on all unions. If the Government was to succeed with the drivers, all the other workers who might have benefited from their settlement would lose out. Furthermore, if the Remuneration Act could be used successfully once, there would be no stopping its continued use.

While the President of the FoL (Jim Knox) was out of the country, telegrams demanding action poured in from unions, delegates and workers around the country. Knox withheld from making any statements until he had been "fully briefed". FoL Secretary, Ken Douglas and Vice President Jim Boomer flew to Australia to consult with Knox, and two days later the latter made his first statement. The FoL is not seeking a confrontation with the Government, he announced, and will do everything it reasonably can to avoid such a thing. But, said Knox, pulling his meanest face, the Federation of Labour will take "firm action."

Meanwhile, Trades Councils around the country had been holding a series of meetings of all union members to discuss the Remuneration Act and the resolution of the special conference. These meetings were often held in a bit of a vacuum. No-one had a clear idea of what was being proposed in the event of the Act being used. Sometimes union members weren't properly mobilised to come to the meetings. Nevertheless, the coverage, especially among the industrial unions was fairly comprehensive. The response was overwhelming. Workers wanted the Remuneration Act stopped and they were prepared to fight to that end.