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EDITORIAL
| Anti-labour history is the focus of the thematic section in this issue which has been edited by Andrew Moore. Labour historians, particularly since the 1980s, have examined managerial labour strategies in regard to labour. Andrew Moore and his colleagues broaden the interest of the journal in non-labour by exploring the extreme Right, particularly its attitude towards the Left of Australian politics. We have a comparative piece examining the Australian and US Right and how they dealt with the `threat of the Left'. Other topics include the New Guard and the Australian labour movement, Pauline Hanson's One Nation and a study of Douglas Evelyn Darby. Marcel van der Linden provides a post-script for the thematic highlighting the flexibility of anti-labour forces, which have shifted from being anti-democratic to anti-multicultural, and can incorporate progressive elements. |
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In addition to the articles on the extreme Right, there are five other refereed contributions. Cathy Brigden and Marcel van der Linden draw upon geography and ethnography to provide fresh insights into labour historiography. Linda Colley uses historical analysis to show that redundancy for Queensland public servants is not a new or novel trend, but has long been a feature of public sector employment; what has changed is the nature of redundancy, with a shift from it being related to economic circumstances, to organisational restructuring. Marian Quartly broadens the focus of the journal by examining Australian labour cartoonists and their image of the ideal Australian worker. Peter Burke looks at workplace football in Victorian working-class culture in the second decade of the twentieth century. |
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Our reviews this time introduce a new feature: reviews of social and labour history literature aimed at children and young adults. The reviewers in this section — though sometimes joined by a parent or older friend — fall into the demographic the texts are aimed at. There is a research report by the late Dennis McIntyre about the importance of occupational history, with a focus on boilermakers at the Newcastle steelworks. There are two pieces relating to the Ninth National Labour History Conference: we reproduce the excellent keynote address of Marcel van der Linden which places labour history in its international context, and Kerry Taylor from New Zealand provides an insightful report on the Conference. Janis Bailey has written an account of a display in Brisbane analysing the principles of law 'in the matter of the first person to be reinstated in the Queensland Industrial Jurisdiction'. In the current climate, with the Australian federal government moving to abolish the state systems, the display reminds us of the positive role that state industrial jurisdictions play in protecting workers' rights. Moreover, during this period of profound change, readers should collect and preserve records, photographs and other ephemera relating to the 'Your rights at work' campaign for future historical purposes. |
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Rae Frances, President of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History has initiated a 'President's Column' and this first contribution not only places the Society in its historical context but brings members up to date with its current and future activities. We especially draw your attention to the Society's website, now located at <www.asslh.org.au>. From this issue, only financial subscribers will be able to access Labour History at the online site <historycooperative.org>; a letter to members will give instructions on the procedures. Obituaries of two friends of Australian labour history — Frank Farrell and Denis Kevans — are included in this issue. |
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In November 2006, Labour History will run a series of articles exploring the politics of co-operation in relation to consumer goods and financial services. Specific institutions include Starr-Bowkett societies, retail co-operatives, wholesale co-operatives, building societies and credit unions. I draw your attention to the 'call for papers' at the back of this issue. Other forthcoming events are promoted in the Notice Board where you will also find out how to purchase the proceedings of the Ninth National Labour History Conference, titled The Past is Before Us. |
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