SEQEB strike of Queensland, 1985

Between 1979 and 1984, the South East Queensland Electricity Generating Board (SEQEB) had been negotiating with the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) over working conditions for Electrical Trades Union employees and the use of casual contractors. SEQEB wanted to be able to employ cheaper casual staff to fix faults and connect power. The ETU was opposed to the privatisation of their industry. The ETU believed the move toward employing casual and contract staff would reduce job security for their employees, increase the length of the working week and would affect wage conditions. Negotiations continued into early February 1985 when discussions stalled on 6 February. This resulted in over 1000 electrical workers going on strike indefinitely in support of the union, which immediately cut electricity to residents of Queensland. == Strike action ==

The Premier of Queensland declared a State of Emergency on 7 February under the State Transport Act 1938 in efforts to reestablish the supply of electricity. When the ETU rejected the orders of the Industrial Commission to return to negotiations, the striking workers were "sacked" on 11 February. Domestic households and small business' within South East Queensland were forced to use candles, kerosene lamps and torches for lighting and power as “load shedding’ was employed to satisfy nightly demand for electricity for 14 days. and picketing by electricity workers. The bills included provision for the confiscation of workers property including their homes if they went out on strike, as well as significant fines. Union officials were banned from places of employment. Wages and conditions could be set by the Queensland Electricity Commissioner and any worker who protested could be fined or dismissed. A trade blockage in April by workers from other unions was ordered to cease by the Australian government. The dispute dragged on until October 1985. == Representation in popular culture ==

The play, The hope of the world by Errol O'Neill was produced by the Queensland Theatre Company in 1996. Its unspoken background is the SEQEB dispute. Brisbane punk band La Fetts adapted their song "We hate relatives" to become "SEQEB Scabs" in 1985. It played in constant rotation on underground radio in Brisbane and featured in their set at the "Festival of Electric Lights" rally in King George Square, Brisbane. The documentary film, Friends and enemies (1987) by Tom Zubrycki, features interviews conducted with people representing union and government points of view to the SEQEB dispute over an 8-month period. Andrew McGahan's 2000 novel Last Drinks is partly set against the episode in Queensland's political history. == Legacy ==

The Queensland government de-registered the Electrical Trades Union for 6 months in the State Industrial Commission, the first deregistration of a union in 40 years. The actions of the Bjelke-Petersen government in this dispute have been said to have helped mobilise the labour movement within Queensland and led to the Fitzgerald Inquiry into police corruption and Bjelke-Petersen's resignation in 1987. == References ==