Papers in Labour HistoryNo. 13, June 1994, ISSN 1030-6218 PAPERSI LABOUR HISTORY No. 13 EDITOR: JANIS BAILEY Perth Branch, Australian Society for the Study of Labour History ........................ SPONSORS This edition of Papers in Labour History has been sponsored by the following organisations: Australian Public Sector and Broadcasting Union, W A Branch Australian Labour Party, WesternAustralian Branch Metals and Engineering Workers' Union, WA Branch Civil ServiceAssociation of WesternAustralia Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union ofAustralia, WA Branch Operative Painters and Decorators Union ofAustralia, West Australian Branch Australian Electrical, Electronics, Foundry & Engineering Union, W A Branch This editor expresses her hearty thanks to the sponsors. Sponsorship takes the form of a donation to subsidise the costs of producing this edition. Organisations interested in sponsoring future editions ought to make contact with the Editor. The views expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the sponsors, the Perth Branch of theAustralian Society for the Study of Labour History or the Editor •••••••••••••••••• SOCIETYFOR THESTUDY OF LABOUR IDSTORY The Perth Branch of the Australian Society forthe Study of Labour History aims to promote the study and dissemination of information about the history of labour, particularly in Western Australia. It organises regular seminars and workshops for this purpose. These are open to members of the public. For further information contact: The Secretary, Perth Branch, Australian Society for the Study of Labour History, Trades and Labor Council Arts Officer, PO Box 8351, Stirling Street, Perth, 6000. Branch membership fees are $25 Corporate (Institutions, Groups, Married Couples), $20 Ordinary and $15 Concessional (Student, Unemployed, Pensioner). Membership includes subscription to Papers in Labour History. •••••••••••••••• Proposed contributions to future editions of Papers in Labour History should be typed, double spaced and forwardedto The Editor Papers in Labour Histo,y Department of Organisational and Labour Studies The University of WesternAustralia N edlands WA 6009 CONTENTS Articles Page "Dung flies fromone heap to another": No. Fifty years in the painting trade Leonardus F Siewert Peter Sideris and the Rubble Wallers Brenda Love 11 The Construction Phase of the Pilbara Iron Ore Industry 1965 - 1972: Workers, Their Unions and Organising the Industry . .. .. .. .. .. Julie Tracy 15 Sub-contracting in the Construction Industry in WA: A Former Employer's View ..................... Jim Snooks 26 A Woman in Construction: Interview with Angie Svensson . .. .. .. Janis Bailey 30 Redevelopment of the Old Swan Brewery Site: A Case Study of the State, Local Capital and Inter Union Politics . .. .. .. .. .. .. Amanda Watkins 55 A Most Colourful Union!: The Builders Labourers Federation in the 1980's Herb Thompson 71 The Building Trades Association of Western Australia: A Resource ..................... Jennifer Harrison 90 Views from the Coal Face andthe Grass Roots:Conference Australian Report: Society forthe Study of Labour History, National Conference, Newcastle, 25-27 June 1993 ..................... Joan Williams 98 The Wobblies at War: A Historyof the BookI.W.W. Review:and the Great War in Australia Reviewed by (Frank Cain) Bill Latter 103 Conscientious Objectors 105 Research Request: Papers in Labour History seeks to publish material of a serious nature about the historical development of the Labour Movement, and of the history of work in Western Australia. It is intended to carry a balance of contributions from students and workers and veterans of the Labour Movement. Naturally this raises controversial issues and no apology is made for the fact that few readers will be able to agree with all the views expressed here. While the editor has made suggestions regarding each of the contributions these have been of a stylistic nature and have not been intended in any way to interfere with the expression of the views of the authors. Acknowledgements As well as those listed above who have contributed to this edition, acknowledgement is due to fellow workers who made suggestions, typed, proof read and supported the publication, especially Jan Burrows, Charlie Fox, Stuart Reid, Ray Fells and Di McAtee. Papers in Labour History No 13 is available from the Department of Organisational and Labour Studies, The University of Western Australia for $10.00. It is anticipated that Papers in Labour HistoryNo 14 will be available for a similar cost in December 1994. Correspondence and proposed contributions should be addressed to The Editor, Papers in Labour History, Department of Organisational and Labour Studies, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009. © 1994 Copyright vests in the individual authors of the works published in this volume. Apart from any fair dealing permitted according to the provisions of the Copyright Act reproduction by any process of any parts of any work may not be undertaken without written permission from the individual author. Enquiries should be addressed to The Editor, Papers in Labour History, Department of Organisational and Labour Studies, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, W.A. 6009. "Dung flies from one heap to another": Fifty years in the painting trade Leonardus F Siewert* Throughout history the building industry and its impact has never been properly evaluated in terms and viewpoints of the workers who partook in it. Credit was and is always bestowed on reigning kings and potentates, architects and millionaire benefactors. This was the case in ancient history, during the continuous building of Babylon and Ur, which culminated in a building boom at the behest of kings Nebuchadnezzar and his son Belshazzar (6th century BC). Babylon was an ancient metropolis with long leafy avenues lined with public buildings, temples, altars, shrines and chapels to worship the pantheon of gods and goddesses. There were also chambers of commerce, real estate offices, surveyors offices, banks and stock exchanges for the purpose of personal loans with normal rates at 20%: a blueprint for twentieth-century cities and institutions looking back to ancient Babylon. Travellers stood in awe and disbelief on entering this magnificentplace. However, there is not a single mention of workers, a workers movement or their leaders, or if there were any not a trace is left, for such is their lot to foreverremain nameless. Barely one hundred years later across the land and sea the great temple called "Parthenon", still a great public landmark in Athens, was built, Athens, the democratic city state from which we all have inherited so much. Their records are different for it is known there were names of leaders and lawyers. Conditions were agreed on with workers. Architects, tradesmen and workers in general were paid one drachma per day's work, enough to support a small family. A very commendable principle to my mind. If the impatient type of reader hasn't given up by now, or has exclaimed, "Now why all of this?" then let me reassure her or him that this is only a small part of an intended preamble for those of us who reject or ignore the past, for if we do so, we never understand the present. * Leon Siewert, now retired, has been a painter since his apprenticeship days in Holland in the 1940's. He was on the Executive of the Operative Painters and Decorators Union for nine years, seven of those as Vice President and President. -!- Once this indulgent statement is out of the way my story can take form and relate to a part of my career which lasted close to fifty years in the building industry. I was born in the low countries now called "the Netherlands", in the city of Rotterdam. Rotterdam is a city built on both sides of the River Maas, a thriving commercial port going back to the 15th century. The Maas flowsinto the North Sea. A couple of months before my birth, I crossed that river.safe and warm inside my mother. She and many others ventured on the one metre thick ice, strong enough to carry all traffic from one side to the other. It was as cold as any Siberian winter, cutting out all building activities. My father, grandfather and great grandfather, all painters, found themselves without work and had to close down their workshop. With so little to do, my great grandfather worked on his paintings, ceilings and wall designs for the coming spring season. They were all artisans devoted to their arts and crafts. Later I listened to their stories of "works" for their rich client merchants and a painting or two being parted with to clinch a contract, at no extra cost of course. This all came to an abrnpt end when the world depression, culminating in a World War, swept over this rich, tiny nation. It was only natural that I had to follow in my father's footsteps and for this reason alone I was enrolled at the Rotterdam Technical College, to study the arts and decorating. When I showed a preference for the Academy of Fine Arts, my father reluctantly agreed, muttering "You'll come down from your high horse once we're in Melbourne, Australia". However, the war in Europe still raged for anothertwo years beforethe collapse of the German war machine, dragging him and millions morewith it to their deaths. When it was all over, I was barely seventeen, supporting a young widowed mother of thirty­ five and a brother and sister in a city with its heart bombed out, a city bankrupted, its port facilities and commercial infrastrncturesystematically destroyed. To the citizens of Rotterdam, the great pain inflicted on them was as acute and lasting as if it would have been in Rome; five hundred years of history had been laid to rubble and ashes. Their beautifully decorated historic buildings, quaint and majestic, ancient bridges, canals and storehouses had been taken from them along with their identity to the depth of their souls. Soon after, the Royal family, from their safe haven in Canada, returned and the Prince of the Netherlands with an inspiring speech, "All the rebuilding shall surely take place if everyone gives a helping hand".