Despite government controls and the rationing of food, clothing and other essential commodities, profiteering continued and living standards fell. Wages were pegged and a strong case had to be presented to the court to gain government approval for wage increases. The union decided that because of its profit-ability, the industry could afford wage increases and claimed ten shillings a week.

It argued that increased production was being gained by intensity of labor and excessive overtime. Official figures showed that production at Alligator Creek per employee had risen from 74 to 96 head and the Brisbane abattoir was up 33 percent. It showed excessive overtime was being worked in all sheds and departments. An examination of balance sheets revealed that both the QMIB and Queensland Meat Export Co. (QME) enjoyed profits and reserves well up on pre war years.

The case finished in March but the court delayed its decision. The worker's patience was running out and a ballot to commence strike action at midnight on July 17, 1944, was overwhelmingly carried.

On that morning, the court called the parties into a compulsory conference and sought certain agreements from employers and the union. After separate conferences with exporters and the QMIB, agreement was reached for a payment of seven shillings and sixpence a week.

The unnecessarily long drawn out struggle to secure what workers regarded as a overdue pay increase was ended.

The union considered the wage rise as a memorable victory for two reasons. It was the first wage increase agreed between the meat companies and the unions around the conference table for 27 years; the last was in 1917. It was also the biggest wage increase since 1920.

The Japanese surrendered in August 1945, and the COM met early in September to discuss the new position now facing the union.

It recalled that in the darkest days of the war, workers were promised a "new order" on victory over Japan. The union journal reported: "In common with all sections of the working class we are entitled to expect further improvements from the post war "new order", demanded by the people and promised by the Government of the country when the war was in progress. "

The COM discussed the refusal by employers to grant the claims for sick leave, payment for annual leave and statutory holidays. Many employers also were doing little to provide and upgrade job amenities. At a conference with employers in October, the union stressed the claims had been worked out carefully and meatworkers were determined to achieve them. No decision was reached and the conference was adjourned to January 1946.

In January, Jim Neumann expressed the growing doubts among the people about the "new order" and called on members to display unity, understanding and tolerance in "the difficult tasks ahead". He said: "Now the conflict is ended the promises of a new order is so brazenly swept aside. It is our job to build a new social order, it will not be easy."

The employers were evasive about fixing a date for the resumption of the postponed October conference.

In February, seasonal seniority agreements were signed with Brisbane Abattoirs and Redbank Meat Works. This action alarmed other employers who claimed the agreements had been gained by coercion. The union pressed for a conference in mid-February, but employers were non-committal and finally refused to meet the union.
On March 1, 1946, the tight wartime manpower controls were relaxed. Within three days, four workers- three long-time employees-were sacked without reason at Murarrie Bacon Factory. Oxley Bacon Factory followed    suit shortly after, dismissing 13 workers without reason.

The bacon factory workers went on strike. The AMIEU gained the support of the Queensland Trades and Labour Council and black bans were placed on the two factories. The disputes escalated and on March 29 the first general strike in the meat industry. This bitter strike involved key unions such as the waterside workers, railway and miners and the ACTU. The employers had the solid backing of other bosses, farmer's organisations, the Government and the Court. The strikers were subjected to continuous campaigns of vilification and abuse.

The State Government declared a state of emergency with wide-ranging powers. Electricity was severely rationed with stand-downs and sacking of workers throughout industry. The long strike was affecting both strikers and the public. It ended on July 11 when a rowdy and divided Brisbane mass meeting accepted the disputes committee recommendation to return to work. Next day, orderly mass meetings at all other centres endorsed the decision.

The aftermath of the strike led to disunity in the union, especially in the southern district. Older members saw the attack on the union and the conditions it had won during the war as history repeating itself. They remembered being told that World War I was fought to make Australia "a land fit for heroes to live in".

But before it ended, the meatworkers were under attack, which led to defeat, and loss of conditions in 1919. After the meatworkers, it was the turn of other unions.

The rallying call in World War 11 was to defeat fascism and "build a new order". Within months of the war's end, the AMIEU was under sustained attack. It was the forerunner to organised and sustained attacks on a wide front against trade unions generally.

Assisted by governments, their aim was to weaken the power and prestige the unions have won during the war -to curb unions and "put them in their place".

The strongly anti-Communist National Civic Council had set up an organisation in the union and vigorously opposed the few Communist Party members who had been elected to union positions.

This traumatic period saw a break away from the union for the first time in its history.

The bacon factory section formed the Bacon Factory Employees Union.

Despite a strong legal challenge and established precedent, it was granted speedy registration by the Arbitration Court. Encouraged by employers, it established itself as a sectional industry union, accepting in many instances rates and conditions lower than those prevailing for the AMIEU. Many steps have been taken and will continue to re-establish one united union in the industry.