Firemen and Deckhands' Union of New South Wales

Last updated

Firemen and Deckhands' Union
Firemen and Deckhands' Union of New South Wales
Merged into Seamen's Union of Australia
Founded1901
Dissolved1993
Headquarters289 Sussex Street, Sydney
Location
Members
718 (in 1973) [1]

Firemen and Deckhands' Union of New South Wales (FDU) was an Australian trade union existing between 1901 and 1993. The union covered deckhands employed on ferries, tugs, launches, lighters and hoppers, as well as enginemen, wharf hands, turnstill hands, change hands, firemen, motorboat coxmen and assistants. [1] The FDU operated a closed shop, with all labour in the industry provided to employers through the union. [1]

Contents

Industrial Disputes

The first major strike action conducted by the union was the Sydney Ferry Strike of 1913, when approximately 350 workers employed by various private ferry companies in Sydney Harbour struck for 6 days as part of a campaign for the 48 Hour Week. [2] The union won the dispute, following the intervention of the Minister for Labour and Industry, Campbell Carmichael and the strong support received from the ferry employees and other unions. [3] Prior to the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge the ferry system was a vital component of the city's travel system, and the strike caused serious transportation problems. [4] The strike coincided with a number of bitter industrial disputes, and furthered conflict between the industrial and political wings of the Labor movement. [5]

The Firemen and Deckhands' Union became involved in a dispute between the Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP) and the Seamen's Union of Australia (SUA) in 1972, over the replacement of Australian-crewed ships with those manned by foreign crews on coastal iron ore routes. FDU members working on tugs in Port Kembla refused to assist the Iron Somersby in berthing in the port. The FDU, along with a number of other maritime unions, also boycotted a chartered foreign flagship, the Texaco Skandinavia , which Caltex Oil attempted to employ on domestic routes. Both disputes resulted in union victories, with the Texaco Skandinavia failing to carry a single cargo. [6]

The Firemen and Deckhands Union also participated in the imposition of Green Bans on the demolition of historic buildings in The Rocks area of Sydney, then slated for redevelopment into high-rise office blocks. The Rocks has a strong working-class, maritime history, which was preserved through the initiative of a number of unions, the first time such an action had been taken. [7]

Amalgamation

Throughout its history the Firemen and Deckhand's Union underwent a number of amalgamations with other unions covering the maritime industry, including incorporating members of the Ferry and Tugboat Employees' Union [8] and the Coxswain and Drivers Union. [9] The FDU amalgamated with the Seamen's Union beginning with the establishment of a single national tugboat award in 1976, and finally ending in the NSW branch's amalgamation into the Maritime Union of Australia (the successor to the SUA). [10]

Politics

Despite being classed as a generally "left of centre" union, [1] the FDU did not subscribe to the socialist politics of some other maritime unions, including the Waterside Workers' Federation and the Seamen's Union. The ideological difference with the latter of these unions did cause some friction, and was an obstacle to amalgamation in the industry. [9] The union was supportive of Australia's involvement in the First World War, and criticised the Sydney Labor Council for its opposition to the war effort. [11] The FDU was also supportive of the government during the 1949 Australian coal strike, allowing foreign cargo ships carrying coal to berth in Sydney and Melbourne.

Later, during the 1960s the union moved further to the left, and became involved in a number of political boycotts, aimed at putting pressure on foreign regimes by restricting their trade with Australia. These included boycotts of Greek ships, on the issue of the military coup in Greece in 1967. The FDU was also strongly active in the anti-apartheid boycotts of the late 20th century, and sent a delegate to the first legal meeting of the African National Congress in 1991. [12]

The General Secretary of the FDU was Don Henderson (1963–1984) and later John Garrett (1984–1993).

Related Research Articles

Sydney Heritage Fleet Maritime museum in New South Wales, Australia

Sydney Heritage Fleet, is the trading name of Sydney Maritime Museum Ltd., a public (non-profit) company in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

The 1890 Australian maritime dispute was an industrial dispute that began on 15 August 1890 when the Mercantile Marine Officers' Association directed its members to give 24 hours' notice to their employers after negotiations broke down with the Steamship Owners' Association of Victoria over longstanding pay and conditions claims. Industrial action quickly spread to seamen, wharf labourers, then gas stockers. Coal miners from Newcastle, Broken Hill, and even New Zealand were locked out after refusing to dig coal for non-union operated vessels. By September 1890, 28,500 workers were on strike.

Maritime Union of Australia

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) was a union which covered waterside workers, seafarers, port workers, professional divers, and office workers associated with Australian ports. The MUA was formed in 1993 with merger of the Seamen's Union of Australia and the Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia.


The Seamen's Union of Australia (SUA) was the principal trade union for merchant seamen in Australia from 1876 to 1991. The SUA developed a reputation as one of the most militant trade unions in Australia and was closely associated with the communist movement in Australia. The SUA merged in 1993 with the Waterside Workers' Federation to become the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA).

Federated Marine Stewards and Pantrymen's Association of Australasia was an Australian trade union established in 1884, and existing as a federal union from 1909 to 1988. The association represented marine stewards and stewardesses, marine pantrymen and crew attendants. The union operated a closed shop, with all workers employed in the industry members of the union, and operated on a 'no OK card - no job' principle.

Marine Motor Drivers and Coxswains' Union of New South Wales was an Australian trade union existing between 1912 and 1967. The union represented workers employed as linesmen, coxswains, and driving motor boats carrying cargo or passengers.

Holman ministry (1913–1916)

The Holman ministry , first Holman ministry or Holman Labor ministry was the 35th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 19th Premier, William Holman.

The Herald was a weekly trade union magazine published in Adelaide, South Australia between 1894 and March 1910; for the first four years titled The Weekly Herald. It was succeeded by The Daily Herald, which ran from 7 March 1910 to 16 June 1924.

Waterside Workers Federation of Australia

The Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia (WWF) was an Australian trade union that existed from 1902 to 1993. After a period of negotiations between other Australian maritime unions, it was federated in 1902 and first federally registered in 1907; its first general president was Billy Hughes.

The Black Armada was a name applied to Dutch merchant and military vessels which were prevented from sailing to the newly proclaimed independent Indonesia from Australian ports due to waterfront strikes or 'black bans' by maritime trade unions from 1945 to 1949.

The Dalfram dispute of 1938 was a political industrial dispute at Port Kembla, New South Wales, protesting the export of pig iron from Australia to Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It became famous for providing the nickname of Pig Iron Bob to Attorney General Robert Menzies, later to serve as Prime Minister.

The Leith dockers strike of 1913 was a strike of the dockers of Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, from 26 June to 14 August 1913. The Dockers were part of the National Union of Dock Labourers (NUDL) union. The strike is said to have brought Leith to a standstill.

<i>Emerald</i>-class ferry

The Emerald ferry class is a class of ferry operated by Sydney Ferries on Sydney Harbour.

The Pulp and Paper Workers Federation of Australia (PPWF) was an Australian trade union which existed between 1913 and 1991. The PPWF represented workers in the pulp and paper industry.

Sydney K-class ferry

The K-class ferries were a group of double-ended screw steam ferries run by Sydney Ferries Limited and its government successors on Sydney Harbour. The company introduced more than two dozen of the vessels from the 1890s through to the early twentieth century to meet the booming demand for ferry services across Sydney Harbour prior to the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932.

<i>Kulgoa</i> Ferry on Sydney Harbour

Kulgoa was a "K-class" ferry on Sydney Harbour. Launched in 1905, the timber-hulled steamer was built for Sydney Ferries Limited during the boom in cross-harbour ferry travel prior to the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Kulgoa was Sydney's largest ever wooden ferry. She was a typical early example of the "K-class"; a group of double-deck, double-ended, steam-powered screw ferries. Kulgoa was one of the first Sydney ferries built with the sides of her promenade (upper) deck enclosed, although the ends near the wheelhouses remained open.

<i>Kareela</i> (ferry)

Kareela was a "K-class" ferry on Sydney Harbour. Launched in 1905, the double-ended timber-hulled steamer was built for Sydney Ferries Limited in response to the early twentieth century boom in cross-harbour ferry travel prior to the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. She was the first of Sydney Ferries Limited's boats to have a fully enclosed upper deck.

RMS <i>Orama</i> (1911)

RMS Orama was a UK steam ocean liner and Royal Mail Ship. She was launched in 1911 in Ireland for the Orient Steam Navigation Company. When new, she was the largest liner sailing between Great Britain and Australia.

<i>Kaludah</i> Ferry on Sydney Harbour

Kaludah was a K-class ferry on Sydney Harbour, Australia. Commissioned in 1909, the timber-hulled steamer was built for Sydney Ferries Limited during the boom in cross-harbour ferry travel prior to the 1932 opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Like the other "K-class" ferries, she was double-deck, double-ended, steam-powered screw ferry. However, she and the larger but otherwise similar Kookooburra (1907), were the only two K-class ferries designed by naval architect Walter Reeks and not Sydney Ferries Limited's Captain Summerbell.

<i>Karingal</i> (ferry)

Karingal was a ferry operated by Sydney Ferries Limited and its NSW State Government operated successors on Sydney Harbour from 1913 until 1984. A wooden ferry built at the time of Sydney Ferries' rapid early twentieth century, she was the smallest of the round-end "K-class ferries".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Huntley, Pat & Huntley, Ian (December 1976). Inside Australia's Top 100 Trade Unions - Are They Wrecking Australia?. Northbridge: Ian Huntley Pty Ltd. p. 259. ISBN   0-9598507-1-6.[ self-published source ]
  2. ↑ "Ferry strike: free boats". The Sydney Morning Herald . 24 March 1913. p. 9. Retrieved 7 March 2011– via Trove.
  3. ↑ "Minister praised". The Sydney Morning Herald . 27 March 1913. p. 9. Retrieved 7 March 2011– via Trove.
  4. ↑ "Ferry strike: boats tied up". The Sydney Morning Herald . 22 March 1913. p. 15. Retrieved 7 March 2011– via Trove.
  5. ↑ Nairn, Bede (1979). "Carmichael, Ambrose Campbell (1866–1953)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . Melbourne University Press. ISSN   1833-7538 . Retrieved 27 September 2021– via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  6. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Brian & Cahill, Rowan J (1981). The Seamen's Union of Australia 1872–1972: A History. Sydney: Seamen's Union of Australia. ISBN   0-9598713-0-6.[ self-published source ]
  7. ↑ "Battle for The Rocks: Identity, heritage and conservation" (PDF). Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2010.
  8. ↑ "Ferrymen's Federation". The Sydney Morning Herald . 27 October 1913. p. 7. Retrieved 7 March 2011– via Trove.
  9. 1 2 Kirkby, Diane (2008). Voices from the ships: Australia's seafarers and their union. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press. p. 396. ISBN   978-0-86840-902-3. dui:331.88113875.
  10. ↑ Kirkby (2008), p. 395.
  11. ↑ "Labor Patriots". The Advertiser . 28 June 1918. p. 7. Retrieved 7 March 2011– via Trove.
  12. ↑ Kirkby (2008), p. 85.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.