The Black Armada

The union campaign against what was known as the Black Armada (Armada Hitam) was one of the largest boycotts ever organised in Australia. The boycott was led by the Waterside Workers' Federation and Seamen's Union of Australia against Dutch shipping and the Netherlands Government, in support of Indonesian independence.

In August 1945, Indonesia declared independence from the Netherlands, marking the start of a four-year campaign to exercise freedom from Dutch rule. However, the Netherlands Government did not accept this declaration and in late 1945, Dutch ships docked in Australia prepared to travel to Indonesia equipped with weapons and personnel to enforce their authority.

Australian wharfies and seamen, supported by those from China, India and Indonesia, protested by refusing to load or crew Dutch ships bound for Indonesia, which they referred to as the Black Armada. The first embargo on a Dutch ship was proclaimed in Brisbane on 20 September 1945, followed by similar actions in Fremantle, Sydney and Melbourne (Budde 2022).

The boycott quickly spread to other unions and industries. Ultimately, 559 vessels and 1,000 land craft were impacted by the ban, which was supported by 31 different trade unions (Budde 2022). While the boycott eventually faltered, Indonesia did achieve independence in 1949.  

References

Beasley, M 1996, Wharfies: The History of the Waterside Workers' Federation, Halstead Press, Rushcutters Bay, 1996.  

Budde, P n.d., The Black Armada - One of the Largest Maritime Boycotts Ever, <https://paulbuddehistory.com/table-of-content/the-black-armada-one-of-the-largest-maritime-boycotts-ever/>