Charlie Oliver interviewed by Bob Carr [sound recording]

Oliver talks about his first contacts with the Australian Workers' Union, early career with and in the A.W.U. Oliver speaks about: first contacts with unionism in Australia during the WWI; the first union he joined was the Farm Labourers' Union (England) at the age of 15; after that working for the steelworks, joining Steelworkers' Union; moving from England with his brother Jack to go and work for the newly operational steelworks in Newcastle; 6 week boat trip; getting off at Albany instead of Newcastle and working for the miningfields up and around Meekatharra; joining Miners' Union; the various unions (Cue Miners, the Meekatharra Miners, Mt. Magnet Miners); amalgamation of all the little unions to create a Federation; amalgamation of the Federation with the AWU in 1923; first union organiser he encountered Frank Toy (Frankie Micky Troy) who later became a Minister in the Western Australian government and finished up Agent-General in London; working conditions at the mines; safety standards; living conditions; union issues in the 1920's & 1930's; Kim Beazley speaking about aspects of policy and being called a Communist; Communist Party; organised activities to keep workers together by the union; entering into Parliament.