Carmichael, other AMWSU and union representatives arrested for union activity in the Pilbara, 1979

Here, Laurie Carmichael reports to the National Council of the AMWSU June 13^th, 1979, on the circumstances leading to his arrest, with Jack Marks and Don Bartlem and then others,  by the Western Australian police for participating in union activity associated with an industrial dispute in the Pilbara.

The National Council held a lengthy discussion having received comprehensive reports from other leading officials and covering the WA State Council decision of the day before.

Carmichael’s account of the arrests was written into the Minutes of the National Council. The Minutes also show details of the circumstances and the responses of the WA Trades and Labour Council, the ACTU, and other unions that led to industrial actions across the country and negotiations with the Fraser and WA Court governments for a compromise.

These show that Carmichael, Marks and Education Officer, … McTiernan were visiting the Pilbara to report on the union’s education programme, and to conduct a seminar (part of a series across the country that started in April) on “Arbitration – Awards and Agreements”.

The arrests were connected to a major industrial dispute involving Hamersley Iron (now part of Rio Tinto) in the Pilbara.

Around 1,000 workers at Hamersley Iron’s (later Rio Tinto) Pilbara mines (including Tom Price and Paraburdoo) were on strike over wages, improved safety standards, and conditions. The unions involved included the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) and the Amalgamated Metal Workers' and Shipwrights Union (AMWSU).

The Western Australian Liberal government (led by Premier Charles Court) actively encouraged Hamersley Iron’s hardline stance, refusing to negotiate and threatening legal action.

The company sought injunctions against the strike, to declare it illegal.

The government extended its support for Hamersley Iron by engineering the arrests, using the Trade Unions Act to charge them with "inciting an illegal strike."

In these pictures (courtesy of Jock Blair) striking workers are gathering in front of the Roebourne Court House for Carmichael, Marks, and others arrested to answer the charges against them. Carmichael is standing third from the right in the first photo.

The story of the arrests is also recounted in the biography of Jack Marks, Marksy by Jolly Read.

There was an extraordinary union and public reaction against the arrests that led to public protest demonstrations and strikes.

At the Perth mass meeting of workers from many unions BLF shop steward, kevin Reynolds, said:

"If they jail Laurie and Jack today, they’ll come for the rest of us tomorrow. We’re not asking for solidarity—we’re demanding it!"
(Speech at Forrest Place rally, June 12, 1979; recorded in WA Trades Hall minutes)

Bob Hawke, ACTU President at the time, said:

"On June 20, we stop the nation. Not for ourselves, but for every worker who’s ever been bullied by a boss or arrested for standing up. This is our line in the sand."

The ACTU called a 24-hour national strike on June 20, 1979, with 1+ million workers participating—Australia’s largest industrial action in years. Key industries (transport, manufacturing, docks) shut down to protest the WA government’s anti-democratic actions. TWU truck drivers refused deliveries to Hamersley sites.

In Melbourne (June 18) 10,000 workers gathered at the Melbourne Town Hall, with Carmichael and Bob Hawke (ACTU President) speaking.

In Sydney the next day 8,000 workers at the Sydney Trades Hall voted to extend strikes if arrests continued.

Young AMWSU organiser, Doug Cameron, said:

"They want us to beg for crumbs. We’re not begging—we’re taking. And if they try to stop us, we’ll take more."
(Tribune, June 20, 1979)

These actions forced negotiations, with PM Malcolm Fraser pressuring WA Premier Charles Court to de-escalate.

Carmichael and Marks were released without severe penalties, but the event hardened union opposition to WA’s industrial laws.

The Court government was publicly condemned for using authoritarian tactics to suppress workers rights on behalf of the powerful mining corporations.

Veteran unionists involved in the dispute, like Jock Blair Kevin Reynolds, are still alive having never retired from the struggle.