Desperately seeking knowledge from those personally affected by the BLF

Woz · 02-12-2006, 06:51 PM

For those of you who know me (my shaved head and mutton chops, my Mr. T. mohawks, my pretty pink bows etc.), you may find yourself slightly shocked to learn that I, for once, am trying to grace the forums with a little bit of seriousness. No jokes this time, no blatant immaturity, no toilet humour. I'm actually gonna try and act my age here. Think yourselves lucky, because it doesn't happen often.

Now, having turned 21 just over a month ago, some old demons were brought to surface. That's been a popular number this year, with a lot of my mates throwing the, somewhat expected, huge party and making a big deal of it all. I, on the other hand, did very little. Bit of a sleep in, out to the garage to work on the car at about 9am, first can at around 10am (grazed knuckles, a gash the shape of a Falcon coupe wheel arch to the back of the head and it was my birthday, so I feel that hour was justified), an argument with the recently distanced old man at around 3pm and then a weekend of not quite being myself. Good times, indeed.

This raised a lot of questions. Quite a lot, infact. From a lot of people. Some close, some not-so. Questions, as I'm sure a lot of you are aware, often clear the dust from graves so long left undisturbed.

You see, I don't have a lot of information to go on, and it seems those far enough back down the line to know what went on, have no interest in talking about it. But as far as families go, mine's pretty bloody ordinary. A couple of failed marriages, a death or two, a bit of alcoholism and everything was apparently okay. What set it all off, then? I'm not so sure, as I said, there's no great source of information. Us young'uns have very limited knowledge. The older crew refuse to talk. However, most signs seem to point to three letters that so many people seem to spit out in a fashion so familiar to those I've grown up trying to know. The BLF.

My old man, being a bricklayer by trade, and four of his brothers spent their younger days involved in the BLF. The Builders Labourers Federation. Now, I've heard a lot of ordinary things about this group, but only the basic summary of what seems to be such an interesting tale. A family that won't talk about the past certainly doesn't help. Being young and trying to find answers led me to be turned away by a lot of people also not wanting to speak to some kid disturbing old ghosts. It's touchy issue, that's all I've learnt of it.

But, having spent the last six or so months running around with my older cousin and her fiancee as much as possible, I've come to realise how much I've missed out on this whole "family" thing. With my nan's 80th birthday last month, I stumbled across our last actual "family" photo. The backyard of my place, 1990. Since then, the only gathering that's seen close to our whole family was another cousins funeral three years ago. For the last sixteen years, there's been nothing. And I'm finally starting to notice how much I've missed out on.

I've tried looking for information on the BLF, and have stumbled across a bit of this and that, but nothing that's really explained what may have gone on between the blokes in my family. So I'm gonna go out on a whim and hope that there may be someone on here who's actually personally been affected by what happened with the BLF all those years ago and who may be willing to explain what could tear a band of brothers apart. Apparently it's something to do with sides being taken. That's all I know.

With a lot of people recently realising just how much I hate birthdays (between not having a 21st to barely aknowledging that of some of my closest mates) as a result of my familys efforts in the past and whatnot, to the time spent lately with my cousin and her immediate family, to an incredibly significant gift recieved for my 21st birthday from my grandmother, I'm insanely keen - more now than ever - to learn what went on that's destroyed a family that used to be so close.

I know I've written a lot here. To be honest, there's been a couple of cans involved earlier today, but atleast it's probably one of the better alcohol-induced posts getting around. It's just that this is kindof an important issue to me, something I'd love to know about, but it seems as though it's almost disrespectful to refer to it to the only people I can think of to ask. I'd really appreciate any info these forums could offer. I know there's a lot of people in the building trade, and probably a lot of people who were affected by the BLF. So I'm hoping someone personally involved with the BLF may have better info to offer than someone writing a tale of the business side of things.

Thank you to those who took the time to read such a lengthy post, and even moreso to those who can offer some information. It's much appreciated.

peyote · 02-12-2006, 09:29 PM

Norm Gallagher ****** up
he was the BLF's victorian state secretary and radically improved pay and conditions on building sites.

Following a Royal Commission into the BLF's business affairs, it was deregistered
Gallagher was convicted of accepting bribes from construction companies which went towards a beach house in Gippsland. He was jailed for 18 months. He was finally ousted from his position as State Secretary in 1991

Woz · 02-12-2006, 09:30 PM

Am aware of that much. That's not quite what I'm after.

RegSpec · 02-12-2006, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peyote

Norm Gallagher ****** up
he was the BLF's victorian state secretary and radically improved pay and conditions on building sites.

Following a Royal Commission into the BLF's business affairs, it was deregistered
Gallagher was convicted of accepting bribes from construction companies which went towards a beach house in Gippsland. He was jailed for 18 months. He was finally ousted from his position as State Secretary in 1991

During that inquiry they also uncovered links between the BLF and the Melbourne Painters and Dockers Union, not to mention organised crime.
Even though it was back in the 80s and early 90s, together with standover stuff, bashings and even murders the gangland activities of these organisations is probably part of the reason that most people who were involved it , dont really want to talk about it.
Especially on a public forum.

[Tonko] · 03-12-2006, 12:03 AM

mate, the family situation sounds familiar, i'll ask a few tradies i know for ya...

Bucket · 03-12-2006, 03:22 AM

Have never heard of the BLF til now...i didnt know these union things were so big

congo3sr · 03-12-2006, 07:10 PM

contact the cfmeu,they maybe able to give you some history regarding the blf,some of the blokes there were blf members before the union was deregistered

**aussiblue** · 04-12-2006, 01:33 AM

see the Wikipedia entry herehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Builders_Labourers_Federation and the books and articles referenced there. Particularly http://www.vulgar.com.au/renton.html Or go to a University that has Labour /Industrial Relations as a subject or Masters Course and grab some of the second hand texts on Australian Labour Relations History (I studied Industrial relations History as a unit in my MBA at UWA in the early 1980's and the history of the BLF was well covered). There is also a couple of ABC doumentary movies on the BLF and the famous "Green Bans."

Also another book is :'Green Bans, Red Bans' by Meredith and Verity Burgman

There also a full length movie

Quote:

ROCKING THE FOUNDATIONS
1986 (PG) 92 min

AVAILABLE NOW ON VIDEO AND DVD!!!

The New South Wales Builders' Labourers' Federation, 1940-1975. An outstanding historical account of the Green Bans first introduced by the New South Wales Builders' Labourers' Federation in the 1970s in response to community demand to preserve inner- city parkland and historic buildings...