Bob Gleeson recalls that he knew about the ALP Split in 1957, and describes Jack Egerton taking over power from AWU Secretary and Party President, Joe Bukowski. He recalls that the AWU then left the ALP, but at the time Gleeson was quite young. He states that he knew of the Egerton/Bukowski working agreement around the Shearers Strike of 1956, but again, this was when Gleeson was still very young.
Bob Gleeson discusses participation in the union and compulsory union membership. He describes the unions' activities on behalf of their members, in particular AWU Organiser, Alf Kain and his style of industrial negotiation with employers.
Bob Gleeson describes how in 1962 he joined the Longreach Branch of the ALP and continued through his life to be very interested in politics. He states that his first job was at age 14 as rouseabout. He speaks about working in the shearing sheds and the regular contact with Australian Workers Union Organisers. He describes working in a number of gang jobs: cane cutting, sugar mills, builders labourer, droving, driving trucks, and shearing sheep.
Norma Jones discusses the impact of the AWU in Toowoomba and the view by the Old Guard that the AWU would help ward off 'the groupers' (their term for the new reforming ALP members).
Michael Weise discusses the formation of the Pilbara Mineworkers Union in the early 2000s and the lessons learnt from this union. He describes some of the other unions that have had coverage in the Pilbara.
Michael Weise discusses the nature of unionism in the Pilbara. He explains the plans currently underway to reinvigorate union membership, and the alliance between the CFMEU and the Australian Workers Union (AWU) that has been established to achieve this.
