Details of the monumental Telegraph Operators and Clerks strike at Coolgardie are presented as follows:
At various places in Western Australia, the Eight Hours movement started to hold annual rallies on Proclamation Day - which was a public holiday. March were held and many sports organised. On the following day, 22 October 1895, the West Australian reported that an English proponent of the movement (Mr. Davitt) had addressed about two thousand people in Perth who were attending in one area. He advocated an eight hour working day, a living wage for all workers, full political enfranchisment and for the land to be used for the benefit of all the people. His speech was way ahead of his time and makes perfect sense even today.
In part, Mr. Davitt singled out one situation by way of an exampleCoolgardie was noted for reasons unknown but which may be inferred on several grounds.:
"Now I am convinced from what I have seen at Coolgardie that the telegraph operators there are worked like white slaves and that they are not paid in accordance with fair play or justice (Loud cheers.) It is impossible for any man to look into the telegraph office at Coolgardie and to see these men belonging to this community toiling and slaving from early morn until late at night in a sweltering atmosphere without condemning the Government for alloting to that labour, pay which is less than that which the ordinary miner obtains (Cheers)".
2. Comments of working and living conditions at Coolgardie.
On 1 November 1895, the Western Mail published a summary of the working and living conditions of the employees at the Post and Telegraph Office at Coolgardie. In summary:
"The most frequent complaints have been made in regards to the Post and Telegraph department. It is asserted that letters are not delivered and that many of the newspapers find their way to one address - the butcher's. There are complaints of delay and mistakes with the telegrams and of cases where telegrams have been lodged and not delivered from that day to this.
All kinds of excuses may be made in palliation: the suddenness of the "rushes", the rapid growth of the fields, the immense increase of population where a few months ago no soul existed, the distance from the seat of Government, the difficulties caused by the nature of the country, the scarcity of water, and the red-tape methods which cannot be overcome ....
The Post Office would be large enough, says Mr. Poole, if it were used as an office and not as living quarters for the forty men who are carrying on the Postal and Telegraphic work in the town. Instead of living at a hotel, in lodgings or in tents if necessary, these men are quartered on the office premises.
It is only a few days ago that a requisition was made for a large range which would do the cooking for the staff. Forty men living on a quarter acre block, as can be imagined, are somewhat crowded. It cannot be healthy for themselves or for their neighbours. An additional allowance has been made in the meagre salaries of the men in view of the expensiveness of life on the goldfields, but even if it be necessary to pay them more in order to compensate them for the extra amount they would have to pay for rent, it is contended that it could hardly be considered an extravagance in the eyes of the public.
The Minister of Works was not aware that the operators and sorters were living on the office premises, but he declared that he would be willing, if requested, to erect hessian buildings in which they could live.
With the men residing on the premises, there is no room in the building for the additional instruments which will be necessary as soon as the second Kalgoorlie-Coolgardie line is completed. Still farther difficulty will be found when the Menzies line is erected, and, when the duplicate line from Perth also finds a terminus at Coolgardie, there will simply be no place to locate a single extra instrument - much less a quadruplex - which requires a considerable amount of room".
On 23 November 1895, the W.A. Record observed "That the Telegraph operators have been paid less than an unskilled labourer or the "slushy" of a bush public house".
It is informative to obtain from the Coolgardie Mining Review of 26 December 1896 (so post-strike), a review of the operation of the Coolgardie Telegraph Office:
"In Coolgardie alone, the Post and Telegraph Department pay in salaries £1,000 per month, and the men all round are poorly paid considering the duties they have to perform.
- operators get from £180 to £200 per annum;
- clerks from £160 to £190;
- messengers from £60 to £90.
The greatest number of messages ever transmitted from Coolgardie in one day was 900, the greatest number ever received was 950.
The average number of messages transmitted per annum is 146,000, the average received is 182,000.
The number of messages transmitted and received since the Coolgardie line was first opened is 975,000.
There are now two simplex lines, three quadruplex and one duplex continually going.
They use about 9 tons 12cwt.Converts to 9,610 kgs. of sulphate of copper per annum to keep the batteries going in the Coolgardie office.They repeat for Menzies, Kalgoorlie, Broad Arrow, Black Flag, Niagara, Coonalion, Goongarrie, Norseman, Dundas, Londonderry, Kanowna and Bulong.
The fastest work done upon the Coolgardie line was prepared by J. J. O'Neil and C. Cutts, who topped all records with 70 messages and a Press in an hour.
People in the East should be more careful with their addresses when telegraphing as no less than 5,000 telegrams per annum are undelivered owing to defective addresses".
On 3 January 1896, the Inquirer described living conditions for the telegraph personnel as follows:
"During the Premier' s tour of the fields, our representative, who accompanied Sir John, made careful inquiries into the working of the system and closely observed the conditions under which the officers of the department had to work, and the result of his observations was such as to suggest that the goldfields' telegraph officials are shamefully ill-treated.How men, whether competent or incompetent (and there is a mixture of the two), can be expected to do their work properly in the existing conditions of life is hard to imagine.
At Coolgardie some 40 men, comprising the whole of the Postal and Telegraph staff are herded in a veritable 'black hole of Calcutta'. Their workroom is a mere pigeon hole apartment and, in this, some 14 or 15 operators have to sit for long hours together, in a fetid and dust-laden atmosphere, while at night their condition is made almost unbearable by the heat of several huge kerosene lamps, which is even more severely felt than the intense heat of the galvanised iron in the day time.
Added to their discomfort in the work-room, the men had to put up with totally inadequate sleeping accommodation. Their bedrooms, in which two or three and sometimes even four had to sleep, were mere rookeries and this fact, together with the insufficiency of bedroom furniture, made their lot an unhappy one.
In this shanty the men have had to work and live all along. Some of them have been conveyed from it on stretchers to the hospital whence they have never issued alive while many of them, at the time our representative was there, were either sick or had just recovered.
However, the removal of the Postal Department to the new offices has since relieved some of the pressure of space, and the men now occupy the whole of the old building. In any circumstances, it is not a pleasant place in which to work and live, and the sooner the new offices are ready for their occupation the better".
In an article with date line 9 November, the Coolgardie Miner reported:
The following are the copies of telegrams which were forwarded to the Premier and the Postmaster-General by the Mayor of Kalgoorlie in reference to the impending strike of telegraph operators on the goldfields:
"Strike of telegraph operators on these fields is threatened within 48 hours unless Department in charge raise salaries to £200 per annum and allow 2s. per hour overtime.
Public sympathy here very strong in favour of officials.
Would respectfully urge that steps be immediately taken to prevent serious inconvenience that would accrue to general public by stoppage of all telegraphic communication.
Strike at present juncture would seriously injure confidence in fields.
Not slightest doubt claims of officials deserve every consideration at hands of Department.
All officials here terribly overworked."At 9:20 yesterday morning, the telegraph operators at Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie telegraphed to Mr. R. A. Sholl their decision to go out on strike unless within 48 hours he could make up his mind to give them each a salary at the rate of £200 per annum and overtime at the rate of 2s per hour, commencing from 8 p.m.
Last night we understand, out of consideration for the public convenience, the Coolgardie operators decided to extend the time of cessation of work to 6 o'clock Monday evening.
With this decision, the operators here and at White Feather have concurred.
It may be mentioned that the sympathy of the public on the fields is entirely with the operators and a public meeting is called for 8.30 to-night, at Mr. Rosenthal's Exchange Hostel, to express sympathy with the operators in their endeavor to secure, justice from the authorities.When it became known through the Hannan's Herald yesterday what the salaries of the telegraph officers on the goldfields averaged, much indignation was expressed and, whatever the public inconvenience may be, should Mr. Sholl stubbornly refuse to give way to a just and moderate demand, the operators will in Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie and the Feather be supported by the residents in their efforts to obtain reasonable recognition of their services".
It is interesting to recall a comment in the Coolgardie Pioneer in the previous August about Mr. Sholl, the Postmaster-General.
4. The chronology of the strike.
| Thursday 7 November: |
"Owing to the extremely incommodious premises in which the telegraph officials at Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie have to work and the very small salaries paid, there is great dissatisfaction amongst the officers. At a meeting held on Thursday night it was decided to demand a minimum salary of £200 per annum, 2s overtime and three weeks leave each year" (Evening News, Sydney, 11 November). |
| Friday 8 November: |
Serious disaffection exists in the Post and Telegraph Office. The whole of the employees have signed an ultimatum to the Government demanding a minimum wage of £200 per annum and 2s per hour overtime together with three weeks annual leave. Failing compliance with these demands, every man will go on strike within 48 hours. If the Coolgardie employees go on strike, simultaneous desertion will take place at Hannan's and White Feather, with the result that the whole telegraph and postal business of the fields will be suspended. The men are bitterly indignant at the statement recently published in the West Australian to the effect that inefficient hands are employed here. Reference was made to the impending strike at the Chamber of Mines and Commerce meeting last evening, whan a motion was carried that the Chamber is aware of the dissatisfaction that existed in the Postal and Telegraph Department and trusted the Government would not allow this to interfere with the course of business. "The dissatisfaction amongst the telegraph officials on the gold fields, owing to the disgraceful hovels in which they work and live and their long hours and wretched salaries, has resulted in a threatened revolt. A meeting was held last night, when it was decided to demand a minimum salary of £200 per annum, 2s per hour for overtime and three weeks leave each year. The staffs at Hannan's and White Feather are co-operating. About 25-35 operators and clerks are taking part in the movement. This morning, intimation was given to the Postmaster-General that, unless their requests were acceded to, they would stop work in 48 hours. The officials at Perth are also said to be very dissatisfied, and are likely to support the men on the field" |
| Saturday 9 November: |
Mr. Richardson, who is acting as Minister of the Postal Department, telegraphed to the men that he could not consider threats nor would he attempt to comply with their wishes while they were couched in disrespectful language. He stated that he sympathised with the men and would be prepared to consider each case on its merits. The latest phase last night was that the men temporarily withdraw the ultimatum. "The situation in regard to the threatened strike of telegraph officials on the gold fields has slightly altered. As to-day is a holiday, the time for coming out has been extended to Monday at 6 p.m., so that the public may be put to the least inconvenience. Meanwhile the mayor has called a public meeting to consider the matter. The Postmaster-General, on receiving intimation of the ultimatum from the staff, replied that the Acting Minister controlling the department was exceedingly surprised, as no previous representations of dissentient action had been received by him. If the peremptory demand is withdrawn and apologies tendered for disrespectful and threatening expressions, the Minister says he will consider their case on its merits. The staff replied, substantiating their claims and disavowing any disrespect so the matter stands. The men are determined, and will leave the instruments on Monday unless some successful mediation is brought about". |
| Sunday 10 November: |
Several leading citizens are interesting themselves on behalf of the telegraph opertors wíth a view to averting a strike. The Post and Telegraph staff had prolonged meetings this afternoon, and again to night. The ostmaster-General telegraphed that the threats must be withdrawn and that if the officers vacate their positions their places must be filled, but business will suffer in the meanwhile. He regrets extremely the officers' action, as some of them are efficient and were set down for increases of salaries. The staff regard the reply as unsatisfactory and are determined to maintain their attitude unless some concessions are immediately given. Relations are now so strained that a strike is almost inevitable" and: The latest with regard to the telegraphic dispute is that the Government have decided that, if the operators withdrew their ultimatum,everything will be done to meet them. In the meantime the Postmaster-General has instructed the recall of the whole of the staff of operators at Coolgardie and 12 operators will leave Perth by Monday's train to assume office. As soon as these arrive at Coolgardie the dissatisfied operators will start for the head office". |
| Monday 11 November: |
"The strike of telegraph operators is still unsettled. It is believed that the Government are sending up 12 operators, giving them each £200 a year. The local men are determined to go out at 6 o'clock this evening if their demands are not conceded. They say they, will not continue in their present condition of, slavery. Owing to the fire on Saturday the public meeting called to consider the matter lapsed and nothing has been done since". (The Express, 13 November). |
| Tuesday 12 November: |
The dispute between the postal and telegraphic officials and the department has been amicably settled. The staff obtains an increase of £30 all round from 1st July last which, with a £10 license already on the Estimates, brings the salaries of the best operators up to £200 yearly. The increases apply to all others on the Coolgardie goldfield wherever stationed. It is understood that the department promised that the agitation for redress would be forgotten, future promotion depending on ability and good conduct. The result has been received with great satisfaction" (Argus Melbourne 14 November). |
The West Australian of 13 November 1895 expressed sentiments which were shown in many newspapers and ordinary conversations throughout the Colony:
"The news of the settlement of the difficulty with regard to the telegraph operators was received with great enthusiasm by the officers here. The public express extreme satisfaction that a dangerous crisis has been averted".
5. The attempted use of strike breakers.
It was an unusual state of affairs in the 1890s to have workers strike to demand their rights to appropriate working conditions. In the abscence of Unions, any such action was localised to a single workplace. In the Coolgardie context, it was only the operators and the clerks who took the decisive action. Two developments did however follow which help to form strategies and attitudes for later similar situations:
6. Further details about the end of the strike.
The following appeared in the Western Mail of 15 November (p. 16):
"The Postmaster-General advised the men, in their own interests, to reconsider their proposals and begged of them not to proceed to extremities. They seemed however obdurate to all entreaties.
Their position was strengthened by a disinclination on the part of the operators in the head office to proceed to Coolgardie and to take the place of those who would vacate their positions in the service. The men in Perth felt they have a grievance very similar to that which actuated the goldfields staff to assume an antagonistic attitude. They too had been compelled to work long hours for short pay and a feeling of support to their colleagues on the goldfield was very natural - although many expressed disapproval of the form the protest had taken.
The fact, however, remained that the Government was unable to find men to take the places of those who threatened to go on strike, and was naturally more anxious to effect a settlement. Applications have been called from the country districts, but few, if any, responses had been received.
The following is the first message and subsequent correspondence which was sent during the day:
The following, purporting to come from the Post and Telegraph staff, has been enclosed to me this morning:
"A meeting was held yesterday and, in reply to the Postmaster-General's memo, the following resolution was carried: 'That after due deliberation, the Post and Telegraph officials, who are dissatisfied with their positions, still adhere to their former application. Signed by all interested".After consultation with the Premier, Mr. Sholl forwarded the final decision of the Government as follows:
"I hope you have thoroughly explained the position of the matter to the offiers, viz, that the Government has approved of each officer receiving the increased salary on the Estimates and, in addition, a goldfields allowance of £30 per annum with overtime pay after eight hours of two shillings an hour.
The future promotion of these officers will entirely depend upon and be judged by their future conduct only.
This decision of the Government is to be considered as final".Mr. W. Thompson, the President of the Chamber of Mines and Commerce, wired as follows to the Premier:
"The threatened stoppage of all telegraphic communication is an extremely serious matter for these fields and matters should not be allowed to reach such a pass. Can you not give me an assurance that, in the event the objectionable strike clause being withdrawn, the Government will be prepared to receive the requests of the operators as an application and to deal with the same, say within seven days, none of the applicants being marked out for disapproval or removal on account of the past, to distant stations.
Under such circumstances I could approach the men and I am certain, from my previous knowledge of them, they are not unreasonable and the matter could be arranged on lines satisfactory to both sides.
I would respectfully urge this course. The men have undoubtedly real and solid grievances, and it is only a matter of justice that these should be righted, even though their manner of putting them forward was wanting in tact.
I would ask favour of reply by wire."Sir John Forrest replied: "The operators have had a substantial increase of salary during 1895 and have not hitherto complained.
The Government are most anxious to deal liberally with all their officers on the goldfields, recognising most fully the inconveniences and discomforts to which they are subjected and, although the action of the operators in sending threatening terms to the Government is most improper, the Government is willing to make all possible allowance for errors of form and to deal with the matter on its merits.
The Government has authorised the Postmaster-General to grant each operator and clerk, in addition to the salary provided on the Estimates, a goldfield's allowance of £30 a year and to pay 2s. an hour for overtime. This will practically meet their wishes. I regret that the officers should not have withdrawn their telegram, and I hope they will now do so and express regret for course they have taken".The men declined to give way. They felt that they had a real grievance and that they had the "whip hand" of the Government and were not disposed to yield. Mr. Hardman wired to ask the Postmaster General what his wishes were in regard to the men's quarters - if they went on strike. Should the strikers be locked out?
Mr. Sholl replied that he did not wish the men to be inconvenienced in any way and, if it were desired that the strikers should remain in the Office quarters, he did not object.
It was almost six o'clock - the fatal hour - before a change took place. The men handed in a letter to Mr. Hardman, which he transmitted as follows:
"It is with great pleasure that I report the termination of the trouble with the Coolgardie staff, and I congratulate you upon the result. I desire to express my thanks to the Postmaster and Chief Operator for their assistance in the matter and append herewith the letter conveying the notice of acceptance of the decision of the Government. (Signed) E. Hardman, Inspector.'"We, the officers of the Post and Telegraph Department stationed here, wish you to convey to the Postmaster-General the news that we have decided to accept the offer put forth by the Government in their final communication - viz, £30 increase on the present estimates, with 2s. an hour overtime after eight hours work. We also wish to express our gratification that the public have in no way suffered, and that matters have ended so amicably. In conclusion, every officer desires to thank you most sincerely for the manner in which you have assisted their cause, and for bringing to a pleasant termination a matter that might have caused a deal of unpleasantness.
(Signed on behalf of the staff) J. McGowan, C. Hustler, A. H. Beilby, F. Peacock, W. S. Hillhouse".This phase in the matter has therefore been ended without any great harm being done, whilst the effects may be of great value to the service and the colony.
It is probable that the details of a scheme of re-organisation will be prepared by the heads of the department and, not only the operators at the goldfields, but at Perth, Broome and Eucla where the men are most heavily worked, will be benefited".
On 22 November, a meting was held with Sir John by two important deoutations. In part, the second deputation, representing the Coolgardie Mines and Commerce, noted in part:
"With regard to the management of public works, the leader of the deputation) said there was a want of expedition and competence shown by the Government officers in erecting public buildings. The present Government buildings, started 15 months ago,, were still unfinished, while they were a cross be tween a stable and a gaol. The Warden had still to sit in his broiling tent, while the telegraph officials, who were a set of most competent men, were herded in a miserable hovel and were sweated unmercifully day after day. At last, driven to desperation, the unfortunate men were compelled to take the action they did recently.
They did not, blame the Premier, but they were sure Sir John would blush for his responsible departmental heads. The gaol showed a deplorable state of iffairs, and some of the prisoners were actually chained to a post. (Cries of 'Shame'). Possibly the Perth press aad not ventilated their wants sufficiently" (Daily News 25 November 1895).
On 30 November 1895, the Coolgardie Miner reported the following comments made during Sir John Forrest's visit to the Goldfields:
"Mayor Cohn, of Southern Cross, is a goodhearted fellow. This is what he said to the Premier at his reception in that collapsed mining centre:
He was sorry that the postal and telegraphic officials had taken the stand they had in Coolgardie and the blame was not altogether on their shoulders, but it was due to certain political agitators that those servants of the Government had acted as they had done. It was an unheard of thing for Government servants to go out on strike.
He hoped the Government would remember these men and, when they had capable men to fill their places, let them be told, as anyone would be in private employ, "We've had enough of you, now you can go".
Also see personnel at Coolgardie in the main Telegraph Office entry for the end of 1895 and beginning of 1896 - in light of Mr. Cohn's comment as well as Mr. Sholl's evasive reply.
Two excellent newspaper articles on the strike are:
1. The West Australian of 9 November 1895 - reveals (as provided by the Department):
It is also interesting at this point to note a comment published in the Kalgoorlie Miner on 12 November 1895:
"Mr C. J. Moran, M.L.A., informs us that the statement of the telegraphic authorities that they have never been informed of the paucity of the wages of telegraph operators on the goldfields is untrue. He states that, on several occasions in the House, he drew the attention of the authorities, to the fact that the salaries paid these officials, the highest on the fields being £180 a year, were simply scandalous.
He also informs us that he charged the authorities with indirectly causing the deaths of four of their servants and affirmed that, if the infamous system now in existence were continued, they would cause many more.
Having received such a warning, Mr Moran holds that the Premier or the head of the Department cannot truthfully say that they had no intimation of the state of affairs as now represented".
2. The Western Mail of 15 November (p. 43) - an opinion piece which tried to balance the views of both sides.
3. The Western Mail of 27 March 1896 reported on the staff of the Coolgardie Post and Telegraph offices entertaining The Minister for Post and Telegraphs (Mr. Wittenoom) and the Postmaster-General (Mr. Sholl) at a well attended social at the Victoria Hotel. Mr. Thomson (Post and Telegraph Master) and Mr Davey (Chief Operator)were the hosts. The Minister showed conciliation for past events in his speech whereas the Postmaster-General reflected superiority, blamelessness about his action against "the representatives of a very insignificant section of the Press and the public, who were talking and writing about matters they did not understand" and that he treated their criticisms with contempt. He also explained that the constant failures of the 20 year old Eucla line were nothing to do with him "but the influence of the sea air".
was below its full amount of utility, because of the influence of the sea air, which occa sioned such an immense amount, of breakage. When the new line was completed these grievances would disappear. His great de sire was to maintain a spirit of fair work, fair employment, and fair advancement in his Department, and he had the satisfaction of knowing that such men as Mr Thompson and Mr Davey at Coolgardie recog.iised this, and showed their recognition by the hearti ness of their work.
The implementation of a strategy six months later to import English staff to fill "needs" in the Western Australian Telegraph Offices can be inferred as being purely coincidental (by some).