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=Radical Melbourne= ==

Police Strike
= = =It began in 1923, when the police got middle-class pay and were treated as middle-class workers. Because of this, the quality of their work became slack; witnesses reported that police were just standing there as robberies would take place, smoking in broad daylight in their uniforms. After dozens of complaints the chief commissioner (Alexander Nicholson) introduced disguised police men (unaffectionately called "spooks") to spy on them. One police man, Constable William Brooks demanded that the "spooks" resume normal police work. The chief commissioner thought that this rebellious attitude could be contagious and so he tried to transfer Brooks to Geelong and then Colac. Brooks refused both invitations and this led to an insubordination charge. This led to the public being notified that Brooks was no longer an officer and an enemy to the force. On October 31st Brooks called a barracks meeting. He convinced 28 constables not to go out to work unless the "spooks" were removed from duty. Nicholson dismissed these demands thus dramatically escalating the dispute. Brooks went around suburban Melbourne rallying police to his cause. By Friday 2nd of November the spring racing carnival, thousands were flocking to the races whilst over 600 officers were striking. The news of the strike made people go to the city to observe the protests. Waitresses at the café in the barracks would not serve police not on strike. In the eventual outcome Brooks won, but at a cost of all 636 police officers being dishonorably discharged and were not able to rejoin the force for as long as they live (Nicholson said nothing about after death).=