The Mudginberri Abattoir Dispute of 1985

Labour History

Volumn , Issue 76, 1999, Pages 107-124

  Brian, Bernie ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 0039707088     PISSN: 00236942     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.3828/27516631     Document Type: Article

References (175)

1. The Australian, 21 May 1985.
2. Stephen Deery and Richard Mitchell, 'Industrial Relations: The New Management Offensive' in Arena 77, 1986, p. 130.
3. For a discussion of the rise of cooperative managerial relations in an American setting see Thomas A Kochan, Harry C Katz, Robert B McKersie, The Transformation of American Industrial Relations, Cornell University, Ithaca, 1994, pp. xvi-xviii & pp. 112-114.
4. For a discussion of the ideas of the BCA see John O'Brien, 'Mckinsey, Hilmer and the BCA: The 'New Management' Model of Labour Market Reform' in Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 36, no. 4, December 1994, pp. 468-490.
5. Ian McLachlan, 'After Mudginberri: The Turning of the Tide' in IPA Review, vol. 41, no. 4, February-April 1988, p. 29
6. Northern Territory Neios (NTN), 3 October 1985
7. R.L. Bennett, Mudginberri Dispute - A Case For Opting Out?, Legislative Research Service, The Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 1985, p. 15
8. Shaun Carney, Australia in Accord: Politics and Industrial Relations under the Hawke Government, Sun Books, South Melbourne, 1988, p. 94
9. O'Brien, 'Mckinsey, Hilmer and the BCA', p. 488.
10. NTN, 26 June 1985, The Australian, 1 January 1986
11. NTN, 20 March 1986.
12. Marilyn J. Pittard, Trade Practices Law and the Mudginberri Dispute', Australian Journal of Labour Law, vol. 1, no. 1, May 1988, p. 24
13. Rod Powe, 'Mudginberri' in Australian Current Law, January and November 1986, pp. 36001-7 and 36073-83.
14. Also see Amanda Kailis, The Mudginberri Dispute and Section 45D of the Trade Practices Act, Honours Thesis, University of Western Australia, 1986, and Bennett, Mudginberri Dispute - A Case For Opting Out?
15. Paul Houlihan, 'A Brief History of Mudginberri and its Implications for Australia's Trade Unions' in Arbitration in Contempt: the proceedings of the Inaugural Seminar of the H R Nicholls Society held in Melbourne, 28 February - 2 March 1986), H R Nicholls Society, Melbourne, 1986, p. 100.
16. P.P. McGuinness, The Case Against the Arbitration Commission, Centre for Independent Studies, St Leonards, 1985, p. 4
17. see also Carney, Australia in Accord, ch. 5
18. Braham Dabscheck, Australian Industrial Relations in the 1980s, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1990, ch. 6
19. Braham Dabscheck, 'New Right or Old Wrong? Ideology and Industrial Relations' in The Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 29, no. 4, December 1987, pp. 425-449
20. Marian Sawer, The Philosophy of the New Right: Markets Good, Governments Bad' in Current Affairs Bulletin, vol. 64, no. 2, July 1987, pp. 26-32.
21. Elsa Underhill & Di Kelly, 'Eliminating Traditional Employment: Troubleshooters Available in the Building and Meat Industries' in The Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 35, no. 3, September 1993, pp. 411-415.
22. David H. Plowman, 'Economic Forces and the New Right: Employer Matters in 1986' in The Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 29, no. 1, March 1987, pp. 84-91
23. Dabscheck, 'New Right or Old Wrong?', pp. 425-449
24. Breen Creighton, 'Labour, Law and Liberty', Arena 71, 1985, p. 62
25. Alan Boulton, The Conciliation and Arbitration Act & Common Law' in Gareth Evans (ed) Law, Politics and the Labour Movement, Legal Service Bulletin Cooperative, Clayton, 1980, p. 38
26. Carney, Australia in Accord, pp. 82, 99
27. Pamela Williams, 'Liberals Secret Plan to Crack Union Power', Business Review Weekly, 5 December 1986, pp. 18-25.
28. Jim Kitay and Rod Powe, 'Exploitation at $1,000 per week?: The Mudginberri Dispute' in The Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 29, no. 3, September 1987, p. 396.
29. For information on secondary boycotts see M.H. McHugh and R. N. Madgwick, 'Section 45D of the Trade Practices Act' in Evans (ed.) Law, Politics, pp. 18-29
30. J.W Shaw, 'Trade Practices Legislation and Industrial Relations: A Case for Reform', The Australian Quarterly, Winter 1986, pp. 171-182.
31. Carney, Australia in Accord, p. 92
32. Pamela Williams, 'Robe River: How not to take on a union' in Business Review Weekly, 23 January, 1987, p. 18.
33. Kitay and Powe, 'Exploitation at $1,000 per week?', p. 398.
34. W.D. Scott and Co, Cost Disadvantages in the Abattoir and Meat Processing Industry Arising from Industrial Practices and Awards, 1982, p. 29
35. Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission (ACAC) Transcript of Proceedings C2745 of 1983, p. 8.
36. Trevor Surplice, interview with author, Darwin, 20 May 1995.
37. Industries Assistance Commission (IAC), The Abattoir and Meat Processing Industries, Report no. 313, AGPS, Canberra, 1982, pp. 1,15,46
38. Northern Territory Department of Primary Production (DPP) Submission to Industries Assistance Commission Inquiry into the Australian Abattoir and Meat Processing Industry, Darwin, 1982, pp. 18,21
39. Bernie Brian, A Tale of Two Meatworks: The Mudginberri Abattoir Dispute of 1985, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Thesis, Northern Territory University, 1995, p. 21-26.
40. Letter from George Whittaker of Alice Springs Pty Ltd to Commissioner Ian McKenzie, 1 August 1984, ACAC Correspondence File C 2745 of 1983; DPP Submission to IAC, p. 30
41. Trevor Surplice, interview with author, Darwin, 6 & 13 May 1995
42. Les George, interview with author, Katherine, 11 September 1995
43. Mick Bower, interview with author, Katherine, 12 September 1995
44. Wayne Finn, interview with author, Darwin, 20 July 1995
45. Patsy Cook, interview with author, Katherine, 11 September 1995
46. Katherine Advertiser (KA) 9 July 1981, 20 August 1986, 3 June 1987
47. Cooma-Monaro Express, 5 September 1985
48. NTN, 9 September 1981
49. Population statistic from Wiasome Maff, Katherines No Lady: A History of the Katherine Area, National Trust of Australia, Katherine, no date, p. 4
50. T.A. Cutler, The History of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union: A Study in the Internal Dynamics of a Labour Organisation, PhD Thesis, University of N.S.W., 1976, p 174.
51. The Weekend Australian, 10 August 1985
52. Wayne Finn, interviewed by author, Darwin, 20 July 1995.
53. Ibid:; 60 Minutes [TV program], TCN Nine, 18 August 1985.
54. Kitay and Powe, 'Exploitation at $1,000 per week?', p. 366
55. Evan Willis, Trade Union Reaction To Technological Change: The Introduction of the Chain System of Slaughtering in the Meat Export Industry' in Prometheus, vol. 3, no. 1, June, 1985, p. 54
56. A.J. Geare, The Problem of Industrial Unrest: Theories into the Causes of Local Strikes in a New Zealand Meat Freezing Works' in Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 14, no. 1, March 1972, p. 13-22
57. Trevor Surplice, interview with author, Darwin, 6 & 13 May 1995
58. Douglas Blackmur, Strikes: Causes, Conduct and Consequences, The Federation Press, Sydney, 1993, p. 60
59. Cutler, The History of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, pp. 33-35, 173.
60. Blackmur, Strikes, p. 56 & 101
61. Willis, Trade Union Reaction To Technological Change' pp. 55-56, 65
62. Cutler, The History of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, pp. 250-261
63. Trevor Surplice, interview with author, Darwin, 6 May 1995.
64. IAC, The Abattoir and Meat Processing Industries, p. 62 & Appendix J
65. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, pp 338-40, 499
66. Trevor Surplice, interview with author, Darwin, 13 May 1995
67. Kitay and Powe, 'Exploitation at $1,000 per week?', pp. 366-7.
68. ACAC Transcript C2745 of 1983, p. 94
69. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, pp. 349, 459; 463, 495
70. Ron Burdis, Address in Reply, ACAC Correspondence File C2745 of 1983, p. 2
71. IAC, The Abattoir and Meat Processing Industries, p. 62 & Appendix J
72. Kitay and Powe, 'Exploitation at $1,000 per week?', pp. 366-7
73. W.D. Scott and Co, Cost Disadvantages, p. 36.
74. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, pp. 474,479.
75. Wayne Finn, interview with author, Darwin, 20 July 1995
76. Cutler, History of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, p. 26.
77. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, p. 479
78. Wayne Finn, interview with author, Darwin, 20 July 1995
79. Trevor Surplice, interview with author, Darwin, 6 May 1995.
80. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, p. 611
81. W.D. Scott and Co, Cost Disadvantages, p. 31
82. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, p. 480
83. Cutler, History of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, pp. 260,310.
84. ACAC Transcript C2745, 93
85. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, p. 51.
86. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, pp. 55, 585, 587.
87. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, pp. 63-137, 175-177
88. Information regarding the numbers killed at Tennant Creek and Point Stuart has supplemented with figures from the DPP Submission to IAC, p. 12.
89. Information on Victoria River supplemented from comments made by owner in Katherine Times (KT), 22 August 1985.
90. ACAC Correspondence File C 4176 of 1985, Exhibit C24.
91. ACAC Transcript C 2745 of 1983, p. 75
92. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, pp. 64, 107, 131, 447
93. Wayne Finn, interview with author, Darwin, 20 July 1995.
94. IAC, The Abattoir and Meat Processing Industries, p. 464
95. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, p. 424
96. Wayne Finn, interview with author, Darwin, 20 July 1995.
97. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, pp. 104-106 & 434-5
98. Kitay and Powe, 'Exploitation at $1,000 per Week?', p. 371
99. Trevor Surplice, interview with author, Darwin, 13 May 1995
100. Mick Bower, interview with author, Katherine, 12 September 1995.
101. ACAC Transcript C2745 of 1983, pp. 40, 93, 155-169
102. Jack O'Toole, interview with author, Darwin, 21 September 1995
103. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, p. 213
104. Trevor Surplice, interview with author, Darwin, 20 May 1995.
105. NTN, 20 June 1984, 25 June 1984, 2 July 1984, 8 August 1984
106. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, pp. 277, 283-4
107. Trevor Surplice, interview with author, Darwin, 20 May 1995.
108. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, p. 512
109. Robyn Alexander and John Lewer, Understanding Australian Industrial Relations (3rd ed.), Harcourt Brace, Sydney, 1994, p. 161
110. Blackmur, Strikes, p. 44
111. David Plowman and Kathryn Cole 'Sources of Industrial Conflict' in Kathryn Cole (ed.) Power, Conflict and Control in Australian Trade Unions, Penguin, Ringwood, 1982, p. 44.
112. In 1987, the High Court weakened the defence of managerial prerogative with its judgement that industrial tribunals should have wide powers to impose current community standards on industry.
113. Graham Harboard, 'Major Tribunal Decisions in 1987' in The Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 30, no. 1, March 1988, pp. 130-133.
114. Trevor Surplice, interview with author, Darwin, 20 May 1995
115. Cutler, History of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, p. 128
116. Houlihan, 'A Brief History of Mudginberri', p. 99
117. Cupper, 'Legalism in the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission: The Gradual Transition' in G.W. Ford; J.M. Hearn; R.D. Lansbury (eds), Australian Labour Relations: Readings (3rd ed.), Macmillan, Melbourne, 1980, p. 430.
118. ACAC Transcript C4342 of 1981 and C2745 of 1983, pp. 367, 584.
119. Because Alice Springs is 1,200 kms from Katherine, the picket was organised separately by the Queensland branch of the AMIEU; ACAC Correspondence Files C4176 of 1985, exhibit C24.
120. Pat Roughan, interview with author, Darwin, 20 September 1995
121. KA, 1 August 1985
122. Sue Neales, 'Farm Sector Prepares To Strike Back' in National Farmer, 7-20 February 1985, p. 23
123. NTN, 2 July 1985.
124. Trevor Surplice, interview with author, Darwin, 20 May 1995; Pat Roughan, interview with author, Darwin, 20 September 1995.
125. Leaflet endorsed by AMIEU Queensland Secretary, no date, in ACAC Correspondence File C4176 of 1985
126. Commonwealth Parliamentary Debates (CPD), House of Representatives, 20 August 1985, p. 52.
127. Trevor Doble, interview with author, Byford, Western Australia, 27 September 1995
128. Rod Powe, 'Mudginberri (Part 2)' in Australian Current Law, November 1986, p. 36078
129. The Australian, 23 October 1985.
130. Financial Review 30 July 1985.
131. Bob Collins MLA, Northern Territory Labor Leader, NTN, 4 March 1986.
132. NTN 19 July 1985; The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), 6 August, 1985.
133. SMH, 9 August 1985, 17 August, 1985
134. NTN, 22 August 1985
135. The Weekend Australian, 17 August 1985
136. Kitay and Powe, 'Exploitation at $1,000 per Week?', p. 386
137. Jack O'Toole, interview by author, Darwin, 21 September, 1995.
138. Tribune, 31 July 1985, p. 16.
139. CPD, House of Representatives, 20 August 1995, pp. 53-54.
140. NTN, 27 June 1985
141. KT, 4 August 1985.
142. Sunday Territorian, 11 August 1985
143. Pamela Williams, 'Westpac's Big Role in NT Union Battle' in Business Review Weekly, 2 May 1986, pp. 18-22.
144. Jack O'Toole, interview with author, Darwin, 21 September 1995
145. Letter from Commissioner J. Sheather to Sir John Moore, 4 September 1985, ACAC Correspondence Files C4176 of 1985.
146. KT, 12 September 1985; KA, 12 September 1985.
147. ACAC Correspondence Files C4176 of 1985
148. ACAC Decision, Print G2668, 27 March 1986, pp. 8, 19.
149. Centralian Advocate, 20 September 1985
150. Adrian Lynch, 'Big union shaft from the bush', Rydges, September 1986, p. 157.
151. For a discussion of these disputes see Margaret Gardner and Rob McQueen, 'Law and Order: The Queensland Power Dispute' in Roman Tomasic and Ric Lucas (eds), Power, Regulation and Resistance: Studies in the Sociology of Law, Canberra College of Advanced Education, Canberra, 1986, pp. 57-69
152. Paul McCarthy, 'Power Without Glory: The Queensland Electricity Dispute' in Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 27, no. 3, September 1985, pp. 364-382
153. Industrial Relations and Management Utter, vol. 4, no. 5, pp. 18-20
154. Williams, 'Robe River...' pp. 16-21
155. SMH, 11 April 1998, 26 May 1998.
156. Jeremy B. Williams, 'Labour Market Deregulation: The Final Frontier' in Current Affairs Bulletin, vol. 70, no. 9, March, 1994, p. 14.
157. The view that this Labor Bill restricted union influence is critiqued by Amanda Coulthard, 'Non Union Bargaining: Enterprise Flexibility Agreements' in Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 38, no. 3, September 1986, pp. 339-358.
158. See also Nicholas Way, The Public Face of Unionism' in Michael Crosby and Michael Easson (eds) What Should Unions Do?, Pluto, Sydney, 1992, p. 55
159. Peter Beilharz, Transfonning Labor: Labour Tradition and the Labor Decade in Australia, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1994, p. 139.
160. Lynch, 'Big union shaft from the bush', p. 157.
161. SMH, 8 April, 27 April & 4 May 1998.
162. Australian Industrial Relations Commission, Inquiry into the Meat Industry, September 1991, pp. 13, 20.
163. In 1996 the miners union lost seniority provisions and preference for unionists clauses when the coal industry's award was simplified in accord with the Liberal Government's Workplace Relations Act 1996 (See SMH, 27 May 1998).
164. For Information on the Workplace Relations Act 1996, see Thérèse Macdermott, 'Industrial Legislation in 1996: The Reform Agenda' in Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 39, no. 5, March 1997, pp. 52-76.
165. Weekend Australian, 5-6 October 1985.
166. Jay Pendarvis, interview with author, Mandurah, Western Australia, 25 September 1995
167. SMH, 3 June 1995
168. NTN, 18 June 1984.
169. KT, 20 May 1987
170. KA, 3 June 1987
171. Pat Roughan, interview with author, Darwin, 20 September 1995.
172. Les George, interview with author, Katherine, 11 September 1995
173. Trevor Surplice, interview with author, Darwin, 20 May 1995.
174. Pat Roughan, interview with author, Darwin, 20 September 1995
175. Jack O'Toole, interview with author, Darwin, 21 September 1995.