An Invitation: Come and see how things really were in 1928

The SA Maritime Union of Australia will commemorate the 75th anniversary 
of the 1928 waterfront strike with a series of events in the heritage heart 
of Port Adelaide. The nationwide strike was over moves to cut wages and 
conditions, and to stop the use of non-union labour.

It was a violent time in Australian ports, including Port Adelaide. The 
shipping owners and other employers armed their people to protect their 
non-union, strikebreaking labour, (or "scabs") from the unionists trying to 
enforce the strike.

On September 28, various displays will provide historic images and 
information of these turbulent times, street theatre, and a march back to 
the original Waterside Workers Federation hall in Nile Street where the 
stories and music will flow.

The events will start at 2.45pm at Poverty Corner (the corner of Lipson and 
Nile Streets) in the heart of the heritage area of Port Adelaide, just 
outside the Maritime Museum.

Poverty Corner was so-called because it was where men seeking work gathered 
each morning, to be head-picked by the shippers or other employers.

Men who sought work on the ketches gathered on the northeast pavement of 
Poverty Corner. The shipping owners would select men from the crowd, and 
those selected would leave on a passage, often for many days, for which 
they were paid basic wages and had to provide their own food.

The lumpers gathered on the two south corners. Lumpers were men who offered 
their labour to shippers or truckers. It was very heavy work, (men were 
often required to lump 80kg sacks of grain on their shoulders all day 
long), sometimes in dangerous conditions, and it took a huge physical toll 
on the men.

Those not selected went home with a "few bob" appearance money.

Life was very difficult for working families and many were forced to rely 
on soup kitchens. Sister Janet Meade and volunteers will set up a replica 
soup kitchen for the commemoration.

Inside the Maritime Museum, Rex Munn will speak about the poverty and 
working conditions, Arthur Shertock will explain the reasons for the 
strike, and the trade union choir will perform sea shanties.

The Port Adelaide Enfield Council will supply a band to lead the march back 
to the Waterside Workers Hall, where SA United Trades and Labor Council 
Secretary Janet Giles will speak. There will also be music and songs by 
Eileen Darley, Jaqy Phillips, and lots more. Sandwiches and soup will be 
served and the bar will be open.

So put it in your diary now — Sunday, September 28 at the Maritime Museum. 
It will be an entertaining and informative day.