Locked Out, page 14
‘This is damn good, Jo,’ Henry said after taking his first sup.
‘Not bad. I put it down to rest two weeks ago,’ Jo said before savouring a long mouthful. ‘The secret to a good homebrew is giving it time to settle.’
‘So, when do you think Scullin will order the colliery owners to reopen the mines, Jo?’ Henry asked.
‘As soon as possible, I hope. But to get a better idea, I’ll drive over to the Cessnock branch of the Miner’s Federation tomorrow to speak with them. If anyone should know when we will be going back to work, they will,’ Jo responded.
‘They did promise to reopen the mines as soon as they gained power, Jo, so it should be any day now I suppose,’ Henry joyfully said.
‘Would you like to come with me tomorrow, Henry?’ Jo asked.
‘Yeh, it would be good to hear it first-hand,’ Henry replied.
‘I could drive us up to your father’s farm after we have been to Cessnock. It would be good to give the car a good run and we should have a good indication of when we will be returning to work, which I’m sure he would be pleased to know after watching you and your family go through the uncertainty of the last seven months,’ Jo offered.
‘I’m sure it will take a lot off his mind too. He will be able to get back to doing what he does best. Sales for his milk, butter, cream, and eggs have been way down since the mines were closed,’ Henry replied.
‘What does he do with what he can’t sell now?’ Jo asked.
‘He has to sell it for whatever he can get. Wealthy families and businesses know that he can’t store it, so they get it for almost nothing,’ Henry bemoaned. ‘Although, I think he is happy to give most of it to his family and friends rather than let the rich take advantage of him.’
‘Okay, I’ll pick you up at eight in the morning,’ Jo said as he and Henry rose from their seats to make their way back inside to be with the rest of the family.
As promised, at precisely eight o’clock the next morning, Jo picked Henry up and off they went to Cessnock. Twenty-five minutes or so later, after a short stop for Jo to duck into the bushes off the side of the road, they arrived and parked outside the Arts building that housed the Cessnock branch of the Miner’s Federation on the corner of Vincent Street at its intersection with Wollombi Road.
As they stepped from the car, their eyes were drawn to the Cessnock Hotel which stood like a beacon on Wollombi Road diagonally across from the Arts building. Jimmy Coles’ voice then took their attention thundering out at them as he rushed past the post office situated next door to the Arts building in Vincent Street. ‘Jo, Henry, wait up.’
Jo walked from the driver’s side of his car to join Henry on the footpath and await Jimmy’s arrival.
‘You obviously have the same idea as us, Jimmy,’ Jo said.
‘Well, if you mean asking what the delay is in going back to work, then yes, we are on the same wavelength, Jo. G’day, Henry. Come with your father-in-law hoping for some good news too. Have ya?’ Jimmy said as he stood slightly bent over trying to catch his breath.
‘Yes, Mr Coles. How are ya?’ Henry said watching Jimmy breathing hard with his hands on his knees.
‘Thanks for asking, Henry. I’ve been better but my back has improved. Enough to go back to work and earn some money. It’s been bloody hard. For all of us,’ Jimmy responded still taking deep breaths in between so many words at a time.
The three men then entered the Arts building through the ground floor and found their way up a flight of stairs to the second floor, which was solely occupied by the Cessnock branch, which happened to be the biggest branch of the Northern New South Wales Miner’s Federation.
They were greeted at the front counter by a very stern-faced bespectacled man who asked, ‘What can I do for you, gentlemen?’
Before any of them could answer, another man came rushing from the door immediately behind the reception desk and shouted, ‘What do you bloody want here, Coles?’
Jimmy took several backward steps at the ferocity of the man’s obvious objection to his attendance before taking control of his emotions and retorting, ‘I have every right to be here, Davies. If it wasn’t for the pressure the Councils of Action put on the colliery owners and government, we would not have seen the result we now have.’
‘It was our affiliation with the Labour Party that got them into power. Your bloody mob only ever jeopardised our efforts. Did any of your people contribute to the Labour Party’s election campaign?’ Davies retorted.
‘No, we were too busy finding the money to help the families. There were many of them that we helped through the baying of your lot and the bashings at the hands of the police,’ Jimmy bit back.
‘Our people took their share of bashings as well, Coles, especially when the coppers were tipped off about union meetings,’ Davies rebuked Jimmy.
‘That is all in the past now. When will we be going back to work, Mr Davies?’ Jo interjected.
Davies, an executive member of the Northern District Miner’s Federation, sheepishly looked to Jo and muttered, ‘We haven’t been able to get those particulars yet. You understand. The Labour Party has just taken power and they have a lot to sort out.’
‘Have you, or the Central Council at least, spoken to the relevant minister about their promise to get us back to work as soon as they take power? They have had enough time to at least settle on a date, surely?’ Jo asked.
‘They can’t just open the gates and let you all back in. There are things to sort out with the colliery owners, who, after all, still own the pits. You do understand that at least!’ Davies responded.
‘All I understand is that upon the Central Council’s recommendation, we supported the Labour Party and donated one thousand pounds towards their election campaign. For that, we were promised that the mines would be reopened as soon as they won power and our wages and conditions would be reinstated to what they were before we were locked out. So, when do we go back to work, Mr Davies?’ Jo demanded.
‘We have been hoping to get hold of Red Theodor to address the rank and file at the Cessnock Sportsground in the next week or so. But you do have to understand that things of this magnitude just can’t happen overnight, Jo,’ Mr Davies cajoled.
‘How will the rank and file be notified of this meeting once you have been able to get onto Red Theodore and arrange it?’ Jimmy somewhat angrily interjected.
‘We’ll announce it over 2HD radio on the Saturday morning Northern NSW Noticeboard once we have a firm date and time,’ Davies retorted. ‘But right now, as I’m sure you can understand, we have a lot to do with the change in government. Therefore, if you don’t mind, I have to get back to work.’
With Davies’ immediate departure back into the warren of offices behind the union’s front desk, Jo, Jimmy, and Henry wandered back outside to stand on the footpath where they further discussed their thoughts following their conversation with Mr Davies.
‘I don’t trust the Central Council or the new Labour Government,’ Jimmy scowled.
‘Well, I’m certainly not encouraged by the conversation we just had with Bloody Mr Davies,’ Jo responded. ‘It reminds me of a rather heated conversation I had in the pub with Red Theodore and his goons not so long ago.’
‘Red Theodore is full of bullshit if you ask me!’ Jimmy asserted.
‘Yes…well, we obviously have no option other than to wait for the Central Council and Government representatives to meet with the rank and file, have we?’ Henry muttered.
‘I, for one, am not prepared to wait forever,’ Jimmy bemoaned.
‘Nor I,’ Jo agreed.
‘So, let’s not act separately as we have since being locked out. Let’s see if we can get your side and my side together to discuss what we have been told today and decide what we should do if things drag on too much longer,’ Jimmy suggested.
‘I’ll spread the word, and if we see nothing positive soon, we’ll organise our own meetings for the rank and file in Cessnock and Greta to discuss where we should go from here,’ Jo agreed.
‘Okay, Jo. I’ll keep in touch,’ Jimmy concluded before he went on his way.
Jimmy walked back along Vincent Street to where he had parked his car out the front of the Co-op store, while Jo and Henry clambered into Jo’s car parked next to where they had stood talking.
After Jo kicked the engine over, Henry muttered, ‘Wynnie is not going to be happy when I tell her that there is still no definite date to return to work.’
Jo looked ahead and then quickly back over his right shoulder to check for traffic. Seeing that the road was clear, he did a U-turn, a somewhat dangerous manoeuvre considering that they were parked just twenty yards from the T-intersection where Vincent Street converges with Wollombi Road. After turning left into Wollombi Road, he immediately crossed over and drove around the back of the Cessnock Hotel, where, still without a word, he parked the car and got out. Henry climbed out and stood looking at Jo.
‘Henry, you have a lot to learn about women. Let’s go in for a couple of pots while I explain a few things that will help you in your marriage,’ Jo said.
Henry followed him through the back door and down the hallway to enter the bar.
‘If you bag the table over in the corner next to the front windows, I’ll get a couple of pints of black…or do you want a stiff scotch? Maybe we should both have one?’ Jo muttered as he walked away heading for the counter, while Henry continued on towards the table identified by Jo.
A couple of minutes later, Jo joined Henry carrying two pints of black beer and two double scotch whiskies. He placed the drinks down on the table before taking up one of the scotches, and then raising it to his mouth he muttered, ‘Bottoms up.’
Henry quickly did the same, and then both men set their whisky glasses down and immediately took up their pints of sweet malt black beer to wash down the whisky’s intensely sharp spirit.
Jo slowly placed his beer glass down on the table and then sat back in his seat with his fingers interlocked behind his head. After pausing for a moment to collect his thoughts, he then said, ‘You have to understand that women cannot think like men. They are totally controlled by their emotions; therefore, they cannot make clear-headed decisions. So, when you get home, you should tell Wynnie what she wants to hear. That doesn’t mean telling her the exact truth but a version of the truth. Tell her that the Miner’s Federation Central Council is in talks with the new Labour Party Federal Government and the colliery owners to organise a meeting with the rank and file. That meeting should, no…will take place soon to announce the date on which we will return to work.’
‘We don’t know that for sure though, Jo,’ Henry bemoaned.
‘As I said, Henry, women cannot handle uncertainty, so you have to protect them or they will worry, and when a woman worries, she becomes irrational. That is why men work to earn money while women look after the home and children. So, stick to the line that everything is on track for a soon-to-be-notified return to work,’ Jo explained.
‘But you know your daughter, Jo; it’s not easy to pull the wool over her eyes,’ Henry bemoaned.
‘Neither is her mother easy to convince, but that is what marriage is all about; it takes time and practice. Would you prefer that I talk to Wynnie?’ Jo offered.
‘Yes, but then again, no. If you talk to her, she will be more suspicious. I’ll tell her exactly what you suggested,’ Henry said.
‘Okay, Henry. I’ll get us another round. That should calm you down enough to keep a straight face. I’ve noticed how you agonise over things when it comes to Wynnie. I have been meaning to have this conversation with you about women but we have had too many other things to deal with. Anyway, I’ll back you up with Wynnie if needed,’ Jo proposed.
‘Thanks, Jo,’ Henry acquiesced.
After several more drinks, funded by Jo’s secret stash that even Flo had no knowledge of, they headed for home.
‘Well, it’s about time you got back!’ Flo declared as Jo and Henry walked into the sitting room where Flo and Wynnie were seated on the floor playing with Phillip.
‘We called into the Cessnock Hotel for a talk over a pint…’ Jo began to explain but Flo interjected.
‘Or three, by the look of you.’
‘Anyway,’ Jo began again. ‘We went to the hotel at the invitation of Jimmy Coles.’ He shot a quick look at Henry, who noticeably shifted nervously in his seat as a reaction to the white lie Jo had started his explanation with. ‘…who we ran into outside the Miner’s Federation as we arrived. He was also heading in there to ask why our jobs haven’t yet been reinstated,’ Jo explained.
‘Why would you want to even talk to Jimmy Coles, a member of the Communist Party, and a man who I believe is responsible for our son, John’s, death, let alone be seen with him outside the Miner’s Federation?’ Flo bemoaned.
‘It wasn’t Jimmy Coles who bashed our son to death, Flo, it was the bloody police,’ Jo retorted.
‘If John didn’t join the Communist Party, then he wouldn’t have been on that picket line, and therefore, he would still be alive today,’ Flo insisted.
‘Yes. Well, we could argue that point all night,’ Jo responded.
‘So, tell us what happened after you met Jimmy Coles outside the Miner’s Federation, Jo,’ Flo jeered.
‘I’ve been trying to but you won’t let me, Flo,’ Jo sarcastically responded.
They then stared each other down in silence for several moments, before Jo spoke. ‘The three of us fronted Davies inside and requested answers. His response was to say that the Central Council is currently holding talks with the colliery owners and the new government…’ Jo started saying but he was cut short by Flo.
She said, ‘But the Labour Party promised you that the mines would be reopened as soon as they came to power, and you would all get your jobs back on pre-lockout conditions. They have already taken government, so where are the jobs?’
‘Are you going to let me finish, Flo?’ Jo retorted.
She then noticeably had to force herself to hold her tongue.
‘Anyway, Davies, who is an executive member of the Northern District Miners’ Federation, did say that the Miner’s Federation will soon call rank and file meetings in Cessnock and Greta to organise the return to work,’ Jo declared with a big grin on his face.
Shit, that’s overdoing it a bit, Jo, Henry thought, as he quickly lowered his head hoping that Wynnie would not pick up on his crimson face and question him on the veracity of the facts according to Jo.
Jo noticed Henry’s discomfort and to avoid the possibility of further discussion surrounding the topic, he immediately got to his feet and insisted, ‘We had better go, Flo, and let Wynnie get Phillip to bed.’ Without waiting for a response from her, he then headed for the back door.
After seeing them off, Wynnie turned to Henry and said, ‘It’s obvious that you didn’t get up to your parent’s place. You were going to get us some milk, eggs, and butter if they had any to spare. Instead, you spent most of the day drinking.’
‘I’m sorry, Wyn,’ Henry mumbled while lowering his head, which was quickly turning a bright shade of pink. ‘I’ll go in the next couple of days.’
Early the following day, to avoid any further questions from Wynnie, Henry drove up to see his parents and hopefully get some farm goods to take back to his wife and son, hoping that would allay her concerns for what he believed was only to be a short while before their jobs were reinstated.
Upon arrival at the farm, his parents were overjoyed to see him to share in what they perceived as good news for the miners with the Labour Party sweeping into power.
‘I’m surprised to see you,’ his father, Bill, said. ‘I’d expected you to be back at work today.’
‘Not yet, Dad, the new Labour Party Government has some things to sort out in order to govern before they have talks with the mine owners and organise a return to work,’ Henry replied.
‘Well, I’m sure it won’t take too long,’ Bill responded. ‘You must have been up early. Have you had any breakfast?’ Bill asked his son.
‘No, I did get away early and didn’t want to get Wynnie up,’ Henry replied.
‘We have just finished the milking, so sit yourself down at the table and have breakfast with us,’ Bill offered.
‘Thanks, Dad, I will do that,’ Henry accepted.
Following breakfast, Bill loaded Henry up with milk, butter, eggs, and bacon, then waved him goodbye as Henry drove away hoping that when he got home with the farm produce, Wynnie would be more interested in that than querying him any further about the mines.
This worked for Henry until several days later, it was reported that the new Federal Labour Party Prime Minister, Scullin, had refused to prosecute John Brown using the exact same reasoning for his decision as was used by his predecessor, Stanley Bruce of the Conservative Party. Furthermore, Scullin washed his hands of the Bavin State Government’s decision to back the lockout by imposing the Unlawful Assembly Act saying that it was a dispute for the New South Wales Government to adjudicate.
Upon hearing of the decisions announced by Scullin on behalf of his Labour Party Government, Jimmy Coles’ immediate thought was to wish that John Spencer had hit his target and killed John Brown.
But that wasn’t the case, so Jimmy immediately contacted other heads of his militant Councils of Action members.
Addressing them, he said, ‘It seems that the Labour Party has let us down. I can’t say that I am surprised, so it seems that the only thing we can do is to appeal to the rank and file from other districts to join with us Northern District miners in conducting solidarity strikes and demonstrations to oppose the State Government and colliery owners in order to force their hand to rescind the Unlawful Assembly Act and reopen the mines.’
This met with resounding applause from the rank and file members of the Councils of Action and a plan was decided upon and put into action. With feelings of anger after being let down, many loyal rank and file Labour Party supporters joined with the Councils of Action.
Pickets and gatherings were better organised hoping that their greater numbers would deter the resolve of the police basher gangs who were despatched to break them up. The resultant stand-off further frustrated the State Government and the NCPA’s efforts to break the deadlock.
