ABSTRACT
The historical memory of any transforming or controversial event emerges from cultural and political competition, and issues related to the memory of labour are no different. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, capital and labour have clashed over wages, length of the working day and safety conditions in the workplace. These differences sometimes have been expressed through covert acts of resistance such as sabotage, work slowdowns or absenteeism. Other times labour and capital have had public demonstrations of their disagreements and they have played out in the form of strikes and strike-breaking. Those who have the power to control the public memory of these events can command the historical consciousness. While labour and capital have been often at odds when interpreting the labour movement, the recent phenomenon to memorialise these contentious events through dialogue has muted some perspectives. As a result, the struggle for an inclusive official memory continues.
