Padraic (Paddy) Crumlin

Struggle, Solidarity and Unity: 150 Years of Maritime Unions in Australia

Padraig (Paddy) Crumlin was born in Sydney, son of master mariner and trade unionist Joe Crumlin. He first went to sea in the Australian Merchant Navy in 1977 and over his long career at sea he worked as a deckhand, pump man, greaser, Able Seaman and Bosun in the dredging, hydrocarbon, bulk ore, tanker, container and general cargo trades. 

Crumlin has been a union official since 1988, initially elected Secretary of the Sydney and NSW Branches of the Seamen's Union of Australia. In 1991, he was elected SUA Deputy National Secretary and following the amalgamation of the SUA and WWF in 1993, he was elected Joint Deputy National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia. When John Coombs retired in 2000, Crumlin was elected MUA  National Secretary.  

Aside from his leadership of the MUA, Crumlin has also held many other significant roles. He was director of the Sydney Ports Corporation during the 1998 Waterfront Dispute and between 2009-13, he was a member of the Shipping Industry Advisory Group and involved in the Navigation Act reforms. He helped to establish the Australian Transport Unions Federation, formed to unite transport workers across Australia. He is also a member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Executive Board. 

In 2010, Crumlin was elected President of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, having been Chair of the Dockers’ Section since 2006. He is the first Australian to hold the role of ITF President and in this role he represents international seafarers at the International Labor Organisation. He played a key role in the introduction of the Maritime Labor Convention, more commonly referred to as the seafarers’ bill of rights, which established minimum working and living standards for seafarers across the world.

Paddy Crumlin has also been heavily involved with the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council, and Hunterlink, a counselling and early intervention service for maritime workers. He is a strong supporter of the Arts, and is a judge for the Blake Prize for Human Justice, an annual art competition sponsored by the MUA. 

 

References

Maritime Union of Australia n.d., Paddy Crumlin, <https://www.mua.org.au/paddy-crumlin> 

 

Paddy Crumlin, undated (N409-110-29).

Paddy Crumlin, undated (N409-110-29).

Paddy Crumlin outside Tranby Aboriginal Cooperative College, Glebe, New South Wales, undated (N409-119-10).

Paddy Crumlin outside Tranby Aboriginal Cooperative College, Glebe, New South Wales, undated (N409-119-10).

Paddy Crumlin (front centre) at the Union Day of Action, Melbourne, Victoria, 30 November 2006 (N409-473).

Paddy Crumlin (front centre) at the Union Day of Action, Melbourne, Victoria, 30 November 2006 (N409-473).

Delegates to the Asia Pacific International Transport Workers' Federation Regional Committee Meeting, Manila, The Philippines, February 1994 (Z668-34). Pictured L to R Michael Lemming, Paddy Crumlin, John Coombs and Dave Morgan.

Delegates to the Asia Pacific International Transport Workers' Federation Regional Committee Meeting, Manila, The Philippines, February 1994 (Z668-34). Pictured L to R Michael Lemming, Paddy Crumlin, John Coombs and Dave Morgan.

Carmen Lawrence and Paddy Crumlin during the Waterfront Dispute, Fremantle, Western Australia, 1998 (Z790-1-43). Photographer - Chris Gosfield.

Carmen Lawrence and Paddy Crumlin during the Waterfront Dispute, Fremantle, Western Australia, 1998 (Z790-1-43). Photographer - Chris Gosfield.

Paddy Crumlin (right) with Seamen's Union of Australia Official Wally Pritchard, undated (N409-110-31).

Paddy Crumlin (right) with Seamen's Union of Australia Official Wally Pritchard, undated (N409-110-31).