Why is it so? - A history of the early Brisbane punk scene

This week we talk to Virginia Clarke from the Brisbane Labour History Association. Virginia has had a lifetime of rank-and-file activism in unions and the Labor Party. In the late 70s and early 80s Virginia was also involved in the Brisbane punk scene, which, like the punk explosion the world over, was a movement of working class youth. In Brisbane, the punk scene displayed a particularly sharp edge due to Queensland's cultural and political conservatism and the behaviour of the cops who were notorious for meting out 'special treatment' to punks, First Nations people and anyone who publicly expressed dissent. During this turbulent time Virginia found herself enrolled in a degree at UQ, where she found the middle class culture of higher education and student life alienating. For working class students like Virginia, punk identity became a source of strength and up-yours confidence.

Outro song: Pig City by The Parameters

• Links to what we talked about
• NT Traditional Owners fight water-wasting agriculture project
• First Nations person dies due to racism in the health system
• NSW government shuts down rail system and blames the RTBU
• TWU wins for Amazon Flex workers
• South Korean workers go on strike

Revolutionary QLD - The history of the Red North

This week we talk to Neil Frost from the Brisbane Labour History Association about the Red North, that rebellious period of North Queensland history which began in the 1920s and culminated in the election of Communist Fred Paterson to the Queensland Parliament as the Member for Bowen. In those years the North was known as a centre of radicalism, with militant strikes, campaigns against fascism, movements of the unemployed and the growth of the Communist Party.

• Links to what we talked about
• Protestors demand child prison Don Dale be shut down
• QTU statement against the proposal to extend school for a week
• UWU statment in support of arrested NagaWorld strikers in Cambodia
• Joint statement calling for release of NagaWorld strikers
• APN meeting - 17th January
• Free the refugees protest - 19th January
• Counterprotest to anti-vaxxers - 22nd January

The anti-vax movement, the unions, and fascism - an anarchist and historical analysis

This week we have two interviews, in our first hour we talk to Tommy from Geelong Anarchist Communists, and Iswedd from Anarchist Communists Meanjin, about the anti-vax protests in Naarm, especially their relation to the CFMEU and unions in general. In our second hour we talk to Jeff from the BLHA about the history of the fascist organisation the New Guard, and what we can learn from it about the fascist influence on the anti-vax protests today.

Outro song: You'll Always Lose In Melbourne by When Our Turn Comes

It won't be long before the workers take over this joint! - A history of working class literature

This week we talk to Allan Gardiner about the history of working class literature in so-called australia. We talk about Frank Hardy, Frank the poet, Bill Sutton, and about the the importance of our class's literature to the our class's struggles.

The BLHA is running a grant program to support people writing about working class history - the Stella Nord Bursary

Outro song: cover of Moreton Bay by Chloe & Jason Roweth

Radical Meanjin

This week we crossed live to the Disrupt Land Forces protest outside the convention centre and talked to Sam Watson and Andy Paine who were taking part. We also talk to Deborah Jordan from the Brisbane Labour History Association about her upcoming walking tour of the movement for women's suffrage in Meanjin. It is taking place on the 12th of June at 10am, starting at the Resilience sculpture on the south corner of Albert and Turbot St.

Outro song: Don't Kill People by Andy Paine

The colourful history of May Day in Meanjin

This week we have Jeff Rickertt from the Brisbane Labour History Association on the show to talk about the history of May Day in Meanjin. We cover the origin of the event in the struggle for the Eight Hour Day, Meanjin's first Eight Hour Day commemoration, the international origins of May Day, May Day history as a story of the ALP versus the 'outsiders', and more.

Outro song: Pig City by The Parameters

The social responsibility of labour - The pigiron dispute and the BLF green bans

This week have have Greg Mallory from the Brisbane Labour History Association to talk about two moments in history when unions have taken strike action for something other than wages and conditions. You can find out more about these events in Greg's book, Uncharted Waters: Social Responsibility in Australian Trade Unions, and you can find the paper about the green bans in Queensland here, along with a bunch of other interesting papers. We also have an update directly from the Newry Native Forest Blockade, about what they're doing to protect the environment.

Suffragettes and suffering

This week we have two interviews, the first is a pre-recorded interview with Deborah from the Brisbane Labour History Association about the history of the suffragettes in Queensland. The second is with our regular Jayden and Calypso from Anti-Poverty Network, to talk about the IWWD rally.

All is fair in love and war - DecrimQLD and the history of unions in the anti-war movement (as a separate subject)

This week we have two interviews, the first is with Lou Lou and Zoe from Respect Inc, to talk about the campaign for decriminalisation of sex work and the upcoming rally on International Sex Workers' Rights Day. Second we have Ross Gwyther on again from the Brisbane Labour History Association, to continue our discussion on the anti-war movement, and particularly the involvement of unions and strike action.

Jump through the windows - The 1936 Torres Strait Islanders maritime strike

This week we once again talk to Jeff Rickertt from the Brisbane Labour History Association. This time, to give recognition to the long history of Indigenous peoples' resistance to colonialism that continued in last week's Invasion Day march, Jeff gives us the history of the Torres Strait Islanders in 1936, who went on strike against the government that was holding them in slavery.

A bayonet is a weapon with a worker at both ends - the history and present of peace activism in labour

This week on Workers Power we talk to Ross Gwyther from the Brisbane Labour History Association to talk about the peace movement and its history in WWI and even as far back as the Cimean war. Right at the end of the show we talk to Navdeep Singh about the ongoing struggle in India which involves the largest strike in history.

Beginners' mistakes: the roots of social democracy and the Labor party in Australia

On this week's history episode we are joined by Jeff Rickertt, president of the Brisbane Labour History Association. He is an active trade unionist, a librarian and a labour historian with research interests in the history of working-class movements and socialist politics in Queensland. We're going to be talking about the history of the formation of the Labor party, from strikes to armed conflict to utter defeat, and finally to its position as yet another servant of capital.

The history of class struggle

This week we are talking to Greg Mallory from the Brisbane Labour History Association about the work they do in the studying and analysis of the history of the labour movement in Australia and especially Meanjin/Brisbane. This is the start of an exciting partnership between Workers Power and the BLHA, we will be having a member of BLHA on the show on the first Tuesday of every month to talk about an aspect of Labour history, and most importantly how we can apply the lessons of this history to today's movements.