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James Gilvray Galloway

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James Gilvray Galloway
Born(1828-02-28)28 February 1828
Springfield, Fife, Scotland
Died3 June 1860(1860-06-03) (aged 32)
Collingwood, Victoria, Australia
Burial placeMelbourne General Cemetery
Occupation(s)Stonemason, Chartist, trade unionist
Known forInvolvement in eight-hour day movement

James Gilvray Galloway (28 February 1828 – 3 June 1860) was a Scots-born stonemason and trade unionist who was a leading figure in the successful and influential eight hour day movement in Melbourne, Australia.

Biography

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He was born in Springfield, Fife, Scotland. He worked as a stonemason in London, and became a supporter of the Chartists before emigrating to Melbourne in 1854.[1] There, he joined with James Stephens to revive the local branch of the Operative Masons' Association, an early trade union. On 21 April 1856, they led a march from their construction site at the University of Melbourne to Parliament House, demanding the introduction of an eight-hour working day, for the same pay as previously for ten hours.[2][3] Their employers in Victoria accepted their demands, and the eight hour day became widely accepted in Australia and started to spread around the world.[4]

Galloway's grave at Melbourne General Cemetery

While initially both Stephens and Galloway were acknowledged as the instigators of the movement, Stephens fell into disfavour among his union colleagues for advocating subcontracting.[5] Galloway became ill and destitute, and died in Collingwood, Victoria, in 1860, aged 32.[6] He was buried at Melbourne General Cemetery.[7] In 1869 the unions raised funds to provide a monument at Galloway's grave, at which it was said that Galloway had initiated the eight hours movement.[4] Stephens sought to restore his own reputation, and later the roles of Galloway and Stephens were both acknowledged by historians.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Manning Clark, History of Australia, 1993, p. 273
  2. ^ I.W.S. "Melbourne's First Labor Day: A Great Celebration", The Age, Melbourne, 6 April 1946, p. 9
  3. ^ "James Stephens: Eight Hour Day Pioneer", 8hourday.org.au. Retrieved 20 July 2021
  4. ^ a b "James Galloway", Monument Australia. Retrieved 26 July 2021
  5. ^ a b Jeff Rich, "The Traditions and Significance of the Eight Hour Day for Building Unionists in Victoria, 1856-90", in The Time of Their Lives: The Eight Hour Day and Working Life, edited by Julie Kimber and Peter Love, Australian Society for the Study of Labour History, Melbourne, 2007, pp.36-38
  6. ^ "Galloway, James Gilvray", Labour History Melbourne. Retrieved 26 July 2021
  7. ^ Garrie Hutchinson, In Memoriam: A Guide to the History and Heritage of Victoria's Cemeteries, p. 37