59 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
59 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
ReThe **Sydney Opera House Work-In** was an episode of [workers'
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control](Workers'_Self-Management "wikilink") that occurred in Sydney,
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[Australia](Commonwealth_of_Australia "wikilink") in
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[1972](Timeline_of_Libertarian_Socialism_in_Oceania "wikilink").
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## Background
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The Construction of the famous Sydney Opera House took place between
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1959 and 1973, or a period of 13 years. In 1972, management had fired a
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worker and in response the workers demanded the rehiring of said worker
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and a wage increase of 25%. Management refused these requests, and were
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all fired. In response, the workers broke into the construction site
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with a crowbar and brought their own toolboxes.<sup>\[1\]</sup>
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## Workers' Control Edit
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Workers elected a foreman and safety officer, and when the Department of
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Public Works refused to provide engineers, they simply reorganized and
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did jobs that did not require engineers. Foreman tried to order the
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workers around and threatened to fire them, but were simply told to go
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jump into the harbour. Productivity skyrocketed as workers did the same
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work which previously took fourty-eight hours in thirty-five (or a 25%
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increase\!), something management had considered impossible. This was a
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result in improved morale, efficient organization and less people
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skipping work. This frightened management so much that they promised
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greater and greater wage increases and better working conditions, but
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the workers kept saying no until they got better and better
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deals.<sup>\[1\]</sup>
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## Results
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The workers agreed to end their work-in when management agreed to give
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them a 25% [wage increase](Wage_Labour "wikilink"), the right to elect
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their foremen, four weeks annual leave (later encoded into Australian
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law for all workers in 1974)\[1\] and a large payment for their
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troubles. The workers were extremely satisfied with this, and ended
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their work-in.
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## See Also Edit
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- Harco Work-In
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- Clutha Development Mine Work-In
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- Whyalla Glove Factory Work-In
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- Wyong Plaza Work-In
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- Nymboida Mine Work-In
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- Coal Cliff Work-In
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- Sanyo Television Factory Work-In
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- Union Carbide Work-In
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## References
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Department of Social Security Work-In
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1. Department of Social Security Work-In
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<!-- end list -->
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1. <https://worksite.actu.org.au/the-history-of-annual-leave/> |