Police are enemies of the labour movement

In 1892 during the Broken Hill Miners Strike, the bosses were concerned about violence against scabs, and so enlisted the assistance of the police in escorting scabs from the train station into town. As tensions rose during the strike, police attended a strike committee meeting with rifles and bayonets.

In 1894 during the Shearer’s Strike, police again protected scabs. They also arrested the leaders of the strike which resulted in 13 being sentenced to three years of hard labour. The legitimacy of these arrests is still questioned today.

In 1908–09 during another dispute in Broken Hill, police spent a fortnight trying to provoke violence from striking workers, including by pretending to be scabs. When their provocations didn’t work, they kettled the striking workers, batoning them and arresting 28.

In 1919, during the Townsville Meatworkers Strike, workers were flogged with bullwhips by mounted troopers. Then following the arrest of two men, workers and their families went to protest outside the lockup and the police started firing indiscriminately into the crowd – 16 were wounded.

In 1919 during the Fremantle Wharf Riot, Waterside Workers Federation member and worker Tom Edwards was struck on the head by a police baton and died three days later in hospital.

In 1928, one of the 27 armed Vic Police, escorting scabs, shot and killed a Melbourne wharfie, Allan Whittaker, at a picket line in November. Allan, a WWI veteran, was one of a thousand wharfies protesting scab labour at Princes Pier, Port Melbourne. He was shot and killed at close range with a police revolver.

In 1929 what would be called the Rothbury Riot occurred. Following the introduction of non-union labour into the mine, workers charged the site gate and were batoned by police. Three shots were allegedly fired in the direction of the police, and the police responded by firing into the crowd. One miner, Norman Brown died from a fatal wound from a ricocheting bullet.

In 1933 in Melbourne police targeted members of the Unemployed Workers Movement and arrested and assaulted them for holding meetings, organising and making speeches in public. One UWM activist Shorty Patullo was shot by police while giving a speech from on top of a tram.

In 1948 during the Queensland Railway Strike the state government brought in the Industrial Law Amendment Act which gave police the ability to arrest without warrant and enter homes without cause. In response, workers rallied on St Patrick’s Day and were attacked by police with batons. Two men were hospitalised, and injuries included scalp lacerations, brain damage, concussion and shock.

In 1957, the Palm Island General Strike occurred due to racist government policies and policing. Palm Island workers demand increased wages, better food and for the Superintendent to be removed. On the fifth day of the strike, the police moved in at 4am, smashing down doors of homes, handcuffing strike leaders and deporting them and their families to the mainland.

In 1961 migrants at the Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre protested, chanting “we want work!” After throwing stones and some damage to building the demonstration was “dispersed” by a police baton charge.

In 1973 during the Green Ban on the Rocks in Sydney, demolition commenced in Victoria Street. The Premier ordered police to facilitate the work of scab labourers, but upon arriving they found the site occupied and barricaded by the BLF and activists. The police roughly arrested 58 unionists and activists.

In 1986 during the Nurses Strike, fifty police dragged picketers at the Royal Melbourne Hospital across gravel. Workers were bruised and choked. The police also escorted linen vans (deemed non-essential) through the picket on two occasions.

In 1994 police broke up picket lines at Franklins’ warehouses during a dispute. In one incident in Chullora 21 workers were arrested and 12 injured.

In 2002, BHP called in the riot police to break a union picket at its factory in Western Port. 30 workers were attacked by 100 police, including the mounted division. One worker received serious injuries during the attack.

In 2010, 29 workers were arrested for “besetting a premises” (a picket line) at Visy’s factory in Dandenong. The workers were forcibly removed by police.

In 2011, police attempted to smash a picket line at a Baiada poultry processing site in Melbourne. While unsuccessful, one worker was seriously injured sustaining a broken thigh bone.

In 2012, police used horses and capscicum spray in an attempt to smash a picket on a Grocon site in Melbourne.