'The Shearers' War' is the first exhaustively
researched history of the legendary strike, and the definitive history of one of
the most significant industrial disputes in Australian history. The book breaks
new ground by disproving accepted myths, such as the commonly accepted view that
pastoralists were motivated to take action because of falling wool prices.
The book also dispels the myth promoted by a
minority of historians that union leaders in 1891 were hatching a plot to take
over the colony of Queensland by armed force. Although 12 union leaders were
imprisoned for conspiracy, the only semblance of a conspiracy is shown to be the
united efforts of politicians and financiers to break the strength of a
burgeoning and increasingly active union movement.
The significance of the strike to Australian
politics is examined, and the origin of the legend of the Shearers' War
explained.
This new edition improves upon the first while
remaining true to the original. As with the original edition, the relevance of
the strike to contemporary public policy is highlighted. These issues have been
expanded upon in a new introduction, which outlines the major changes to
industrial relations legislation since the writing of the first edition, and
suggests parallels between the actions of Liberal governments in the 1890s and
the 2000s, and the ultimate fates of those governments.
First published in 1989, and out of print for many
year, this new revised edition now brings the history of this important event to
the current generation.
Contents:
Introduction
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
1. Introduction
2. Opposing Forces
3. First Battles
4. General Call-out
5. Non-violent Non-cooperation
6. Sedition, Conspiracy and Counter-conspiracy
7. The Fight for Arbitration
8. The Politics of the Shearers' War
9. The Legend of the Shearers' War
10. Conclusion
Appendix A. The Contemporary Views of the War
Appendix B. The Battle of the Agreements
Appendix C. ALF's 1890 and 1891 Political Platforms
Appendix D. The Big Runs
Appendix E. Military Strength
Appendix F. Union Camps
Appendix G. Trade Union Law in Queensland 1891
Appendix H. List of Union Prisoners
Notes
References
Index
