The A.M.A. declared its members would not return to work unless granted a standard wage rate of one pond a shift; a 6 hour shift,bank to bank; and the abolition of contract work.
During the course Mr Justice Higgins took evidence at Broken Hill and also at Port Pirie, where the local Amalgamated Miner's Association was a sub-branch of Broken Hill. The award made on 12 March provided for no change in wage rate but reduced the hours of work from 48 to 46 per week. Upon an appeal to the High Court by the B.H.P. Company. Wages remained unaltered but hours of work were once again restored to 48 weekly. At a referendum held on 19 May, it was agreed to return to work at pre-dispute wages and hours. The strike, or lockout, affected only employees of the Proprietary, British, Block 10 and the Junction mines at Broken Hill, but the smelters at Port Pirie were closed.
No underground mining operations were carried out by the B.H.P. Company for two years after cessation of the dispute, the company preferring to treat only the residue dumps on the surface. During the industrial dispute, a co-operative store, bakery and woodyard were established by the unions to relieve distress, and a system of food coupons was introduced, based on the picket duty carried out by each unionist. In its first major test since the 1892 strike, the Amalgamated Miner's Association had again failed in its objectives. After five weary months of unemployment, the workers who were able to return to the mines did so on the same terms as when the dispute began. But, when compared with previous confrontation between management and Labour, there was this important difference;after the ill-fated 1892 strike, the standing of the trade union movement declined to a very low ebb whereas, in the 1909 dispute-despite its failure-the unionists had closed their ranks and stood firmly behind the Amalgamated Miner's Association. Two less publicised strikes also took place during the year. The choir of the South Broken Hill Methodist Church went on strike because the soloist brought her own accompanist. The Reverent C.E.Schafer thereupon played the opening hyms until relieved by a 'scab organist'. In the second incident, the youthful members of the North School Fife and Drum Band declined to perform their usual morning duty of playing a march, because no further tuition was to be given.
'Negotiations are pending', reported the Barrier Daily Truth of 28 June.
1919 THE BIG STRIKE-The Higgens Award was due to expire on 16 June 1919. Towards the date of its determination, the unions became restive, continuing to agitate for shorter working hours and increased wages. Applications from several craft unions had been before the New South Wales Arbitration Court for some time without being heard. There was general frustration and discontent. The mounting grievances culminat in the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners ceasing work on 21 April 1919; the Federated Engine Driver's and Firemen's Association on 30 April;the remaining craft unions on 7 May and,finally, the Amalgamated Miner's Association on 19 May.
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