Pamphlet
- Title
- Wharfies Still Fight for Democracy
- Imprint
- Brisbane Branch, Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia [This copy courtesy of John Englart], Brisbane, 24 September 1945, 1 pp
- Abstract
A roneoed leaflet on the Waterside Workers' Federation Dutch dispute in 1945.
When the Japanese occupation of Indonesia came to and end in 1945, Dutch troops prepared for the resumption of colonial rule. The Waterside Workers Federation was to become part of a movement in Australia to support Indonesian independence. As Rupert Lockwood wrote in his book, 'Black Armada', the ensuing campaign involved declaring Dutch ships bound for Indonesia as 'black'- subject to union bans.
In this leaflet, the Brisbane Branch of the Waterside Workers' Federation announces its support for Indonesian seamen and wharfies - who refused to load Dutch ships "with material to wage war against the people of Indonesia" - in Sydney. That morning 1,000 members of the branch endorsed the recommendation of the executive to refuse to load other Dutch ships in Brisbane.
The leaflet is attributed to E.C. Englart, Secretary of the Brisbane Branch Waterside Workers Federation.