1948 Queensland railway strike

[1] The main reason for the strike was the failure of the state Arbitration Court to hear claims the relevant unions lodged the previous year.

[2][3] Amid this background, workshop and running shed tradesmen employed by the Queensland Railways Department officially stopped work at one minute past midnight on Tuesday 3 February 1948.

[2] On 9 Mar 1948, the Queensland Parliament, led by Premier Ned Hanlon, passed the Industrial Law Amendment Act of 1948, which gave police extraordinary powers to arrest without warrant and enter any home without cause.

[4][7][8] In the following days there was mass protest over the incident with thousands of union sympathizers gathering in King George Square,[9][10] with other demonstrations held around the country.

[12][13] On 1 April, following seven and a half hours of discussion, the Central Railway Disputes Committee recommended workers accept a wage rise of 12s.4d.