The 1890 Maritime Strike

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

The 1890 Maritime Strike was one of the most significant strikes in Australian history. Along with the 1891 Shearers’ Strike, it was the catalyst for the formation of the Australian Labor Party. Trade unions had grown significantly throughout the 1880s and by the 1890s Australia was the most unionised nation in the world per capita (National Museum of Australia 2022). 

In March 1890, delegates from ports across Australia met in Sydney for a Wharf Labourers’ Federation meeting. At this meeting, ships’ officers formed the Mercantile Marine Officers Association. It was this association’s affiliation with the Melbourne Trades Hall that sparked the Maritime Strike. Shipowners were greatly concerned by the power wielded by such an alignment and tried to prevent the association from recruiting members. Negotiations broke down between shipowners and unions in August 1890 and marine officers left their posts.

Striking maritime workers found support from shearers, miners, gas stokers and transport workers. Coal mining unions refused to supply coal for ships; gas stokers struck; transport workers walked out; and shearers’ unions imposed a ban on processing non-union wool (National Museum of Australia 2022).

Employers, backed by anti-union politicians, were quite willing to use the law and physical force in response to striking workers. The Master and Servants Act was used to prosecute strikers and special constables were employed to police them. Despite this, approximately 50,000 workers were involved in the strike action over a two-month period.

However, the prosperity of the 1880s had passed and during the early 1890s, Australia experienced a severe economic downturn. There was no shortage of unemployed workers willing to replace the striking trade unionists and the police and military were used to ensure these workers could safely cross pickets. The combination of a weak economy, plentiful strikebreakers and government support for shipowners was ultimately disastrous for the maritime workers and in November 1890, the marine officers accepted their employers’ terms and returned to work. Many workers returned to work under much worse wages and conditions. 

 

 

References

ACTU Institute 2021, 1890 Maritime Strike, Union History Blog, <https://atui.org.au/2021/08/12/1890-maritime-strike/> .

National Museum of Australia 2022, Defining Moment: ALP Forms, <https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/alp-forms> 

 

 

Federated Seamen's Union members and supporters march during the Maritime Strike, 1890. Photo courtesy of the ACTU Institute Blog.

Federated Seamen's Union members and supporters march during the Maritime Strike, 1890. Photo courtesy of the ACTU Institute Blog.

Pamphlet relating to the Maritime Strike, 1890, by H.H. Champion.

Pamphlet relating to the Maritime Strike, 1890, by H.H. Champion.

Page from minute book of the Mercantile Marine Officers' Association, 1904. The Association's affiliation with the Melbourne Trades Hall sparked the 1890 Maritime Strike.

Page from minute book of the Mercantile Marine Officers' Association, 1904. The Association's affiliation with the Melbourne Trades Hall sparked the 1890 Maritime Strike.