Charlie Fitzgibbon

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

Charles (Charlie) Fitzgibbon was born in Carrington, New South Wales, in 1922.

In 1938, he commenced work as a clerk in the Newcastle Branch Office of the Waterside Workers' Federation. Four years later, he was working as a wharfie on the Newcastle waterfront.

In 1953, Fitzgibbon was elected a Federal Councillor to the WWF and the following year was elected President and Vigilance Officer of the Newcastle Branch. He also served as President of the Newcastle Trades & Labour Council from 1957-1959.

During the 1950s, Fitzgibbon joined the Australian Labor Party and served on the party’s State Executive from 1959-1971 and Administrative Committee from 1971-1979.

In 1961, he was elected General Secretary of the WWF, a position he held until 1983. Under his leadership, the WWF established workers' superannuation, the Waterside Workers' Credit Union, permanency, voluntary redundancy, leave loading and the 35 hour week - all firsts in the labour movement that then flowed onto other unions (Reynolds 2001).

During the 1970s, Fitzgibbon was the Transport Group representative for the Australian Council of Trade Unions, before being elected Senior Vice President in 1981.

Fitzgibbon was very active in the International Labour Organisation, acting as Australian Advisor and serving on the Committee of Experts to revise the ILO Code of Safety and Health in Dock Work.

After his retirement from the WWF, he was appointed to the Board of the Reserve Bank. He was also active in the Industries Assistance Commission, serving as an Associate Commissioner on the inquiry into the heavy engineering industry, and as IAC Commissioner in 1985. In 1984, he was awarded an Order of Australia in 1984.

Charlie Fitzgibbon died on 19 February 2001, aged 79. Former ACTU Secretary and labor heavyweight Bill Kelty described him as a mentor and lynchpin of the trade union movement, with every worker in the country owing a debt to him (Reynolds 2001). 

 

References

Reynolds, Z 2001, Vale: Charlie Fitzgibbon, Workers Online, Iss. 85, <http://workers.labor.net.au/85/news92_charlie.html> 

 

 

Charlie Fitzgibbon, undated (Z432-86).

Charlie Fitzgibbon, undated (Z432-86).

Voting leaflet for Charlie Fitzgibbon, 1961.

Voting leaflet for Charlie Fitzgibbon, 1961.

Voting leaflet for Charlie Fitzgibbon, c. 1961.

Voting leaflet for Charlie Fitzgibbon, c. 1961.

Letter to Charlie Fitzgibbon from Australian Council of Trade Unions President Bob Hawke regarding Charlie's retirement from the Executive, 21 September 1979 (P102-26).

Letter to Charlie Fitzgibbon from Australian Council of Trade Unions President Bob Hawke regarding Charlie's retirement from the Executive, 21 September 1979 (P102-26).

Charlie Fitzgibbon (far right) with other trade unionists including Tas Bull (centre) and Bob Hawke (between Tas and Charlie), 1977 (P102).

Charlie Fitzgibbon (far right) with other trade unionists including Tas Bull (centre) and Bob Hawke (between Tas and Charlie), 1977 (P102).

Telegram from New South Wales Premier Neville Wran to Charlie Fitzgibbon congratulating him on his appointment to the Order of Australia, 26 January 1984 (P102-22).

Telegram from New South Wales Premier Neville Wran to Charlie Fitzgibbon congratulating him on his appointment to the Order of Australia, 26 January 1984 (P102-22).