The 1880s: A Period of Growth

The 1880s was a very active period for trade unions and saw a number of landmark moments. In 1881, legislation passed in New South Wales that legalised trade unions. This was at least partially responsible for a jump in the number of trade unions from just a handful to 53 by the end of the decade.

In Sydney, the early waterside workers’ union was organised into two sections – the Labouring Men’s Union of Circular Quay and the West Sydney Labouring Men’s Association. Forefront of the union’s objectives was advocating for an eight-hour day for wharf labourers, with workers to be paid 10 shillings per day, an increase from their current 9 shillings. However, shipowners refused to recognise the union, and early strike action instigated by the union was ultimately unsuccessful, with the shipowners and the Chamber of Manufacturers able to source ample non-union labour.

By 1882, the Sydney-based unions amalgamated as the Sydney Wharf Labourers’ Union. They unsuccessfully campaigned for an increase of threepence an hour or 10 shillings for a 10-hour day, arguing that the cost of living and the casual nature of their work demanded it. In Brisbane in 1876, wharf labourers experienced some success when they struck and subsequently secured an 8-hour workday, but they were forced to accept a 6% reduction in their hourly rate.  

By the 1880s, there were seamen’s unions in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart. They formed a loose federation which by 1890 was known as the Federated Seamen’s Union of Australasia. This union also extended to cover New Zealand. This growth worried employers and in 1886, the Steamship Owners’ Association met with the Seamen’s, Marine Stewards’ and Marine Cooks’ Unions to discuss making shipping more profitable. Not surprisingly, shipowners suggested this was best achieved through wages and overtime reductions, and not surprisingly this was not welcomed by the unions.  

By the end of the 1880s, all Australian states had formed unions to represent maritime workers, with these unions supported by state-based Trades and Labour Councils. The Sydney Wharf Labourers’ Union was at the time, one of the largest trade unions in Australia. The Melbourne Wharf Labourers’ Union was also strong in membership, and along with the Port Phillip Stevedores’ Union, was successful in gaining improved wages and conditions for members including overtime and an eight-hour day.

In South Australia, the Port Adelaide Working Men's Association had formed in 1872 and continued to grow, advocating for the interests of wharf labourers in Adelaide. The Association assisted members in obtaining fair wages and conditions and also financially supported members through a benefit fund that was funded by entrance fees, subscriptions and fines. The Association continued to operate until formally joining the Waterside Workers’ Federation in 1915.

The Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers was established in Sydney in 1881, initially as the Australasian Institution of Marine Engineers. Prior to this, maritime engineers in Sydney had formed the Association of Marine Engineers in June 1880. Within a short period, the AIME formed branches in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Newcastle and New Zealand branches in Wellington, Dunedin and Auckland. The Australian Institute of Marine Engineers (Employees) was federally registered in June 1906. In 1922, the union formally changed its name to the Australasian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (Employees), choosing a more inclusive name to encourage membership of hydraulic and electrical engineers. The ‘Australasian’ was changed to ‘Australian’ in 1924 when the New Zealand branches gained autonomy and the union became a wholly Australian union. The AIMPE still operates today, representing members who work on a variety of vessels including tankers, passenger vessels, tugboats, ferries, dredges, patrol boats, bulk ships, offshore oil and gas industry vessels, fishing vessels and ADF support vessels. The union has also joined with the Australian Maritime Officers’ Union to form the Nautilus Federation Australia, representing maritime officers across Australia. 

The Mercantile Marine Officers’ Association of Australasia formed in Sydney in 1889 to advocate for merchant marine officers. At a general meeting in 1904, members agreed to change the union’s name to the Merchant Service Guild of Australasia (shortened to Australia in 1952) and on 15 May 1905, the union became the first in Australia to be registered under the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904. That same year, a branch of the union was formed in Victoria. There were six main member categories - offshore members, tugs, pilots, shore based members, marine engineers and drivers, and seagoing shipwrights. In 1992, the union merged with the Australian Stevedoring Supervisors’ Association to form the Australian Maritime Officers’ Union (AMOU). Today the AMOU continues to operate and represents all professional, administrative, supervisory and technical employees in the maritime and stevedoring industries, including port and marine authorities.  

This strong growth in trade unionism was a source of great concern for shipowners and employers in the late 1800s, who agreed that “drastic steps would have to be taken to destroy this menace of workers’ unity if vested interest and property rights were to be effectively protected” (Healy n.d.) What resulted was a protracted period of conflict between employers and workers and a series of bitter strikes. 

In 1890, representatives from the waterside workers state-based unions came together to discuss the formation of a federation of wharf labourers. This would result in one of the largest trade unions in the Southern Hemisphere, numbering between 12,000-15,000 members. The Federation’s key short-term objectives were to achieve an eight-hour working day with payment of 1 shilling per hour or a daily rate of 10 shillings with overtime. Additionally, all wharf labourers should be union members. Unsurprisingly, the employers’ and shipowners’ unions disagreed with many of the demands, leading to the 1890 Maritime Strike.

References

Australian Maritime Officers’ Union 2021, About Us, <https://www.amou.com.au/about-us/> 

Fitzpatrick, B & Cahill, R 1981, The Seamen’s Union of Australia 1872-1972, Seamen’s Union of Australia, Sydney.

Healy, J n.d., A Brief History of the Australian Waterfront and the Waterside Workers’ Unions, Waterside Workers’ Federation Sydney Branch Deposit (Z468).