Pictured: Miners of Mount Pleasant Colliery joined the march to form a union in 1879. Credit: From the collections of the Wollongong City Library and the Illawarra Historical Society.
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Formation of the Illawarra's first coalminers' union in 1878 was a proud affair, preceded by a march of 300 people through the streets of Bulli.
As outlined in last week's edition, the movement was inspired by the threat of a Chinese workers' invasion that had begun to affect the shipping industry.
A general meeting of miners from the region's four collieries at Bulli, Coalcliff, Mt Pleasant and Mt Keira, met on December 28 in "Michael Cawley's paddock", adjoining the Toll-bar on Bulli Rd.
The Mercury said the miners and employees of the Bulli colliery, together with several from Coalcliff, mustered at the old saw mill and formed into procession order, marching three abreast to the meeting place, led by "an improvised band" that played "appropriate airs".
Once the meeting had been opened, Mr J. Wynn moved the following momentous resolution: "That the miners of the Illawarra district think it desirable to form themselves into a union".
Mr Wynn said the procession that day showed that after years of "coldness and indifference" to the idea of forming a union, "they were ready to act as one man". His motion, seconded by Thomas Wilson, was carried unanimously.
In the first instance, a union was formed in connection with the Bulli colliery, with John Wynn elected secretary, W. Ryan treasurer and T. Shipton president.
But formation of the union, together with a resolution to black ban the loading of coal onto Chinese-manned vessels, did not go down well with the Bulli Coal Company, which locked the miners out and withheld wages owing.
Similar threats of a lock-out at the Mt Pleasant and Mt Keira collieries resulted in the miners hesitating in proceeding with their own unions.
At a meeting of Mt Pleasant miners in January 1879, Bulli delegate Mr Hilton said there was a misconception the union was intended to operate as a "tyranising weapon against the colliery proprietors and masters … [But] unions were intended to operate merely as protective associations."
Indeed, the promise of security meant several miners were already securing "bits of land" on which to build homes, confident they would not have to leave them at a day's notice "from their masters".
Immediately following the meeting, 60 miners paid their entrance money to a local branch of the union.
Despite threats from the Mt Pleasant Colliery directors, the newly inducted unionists - now numbering 78 of a total of 100 - were permitted to return to work. However they were told that the company was determined to "crush out" their alliance.
The lock-out continued at Bulli, the situation becoming so grievous, the actions of the Bulli Coal Company were condemned at a meeting held at the Masonic Hall in Sydney, attended by parliamentarians and unionists alike.
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