Early Years

Trade unionism dates back to the mid-1800s in Australia, with the formation of trade unions representing builders, stonemasons, miners and printers, amongst others. However, it was not until 1872 that the first trade unions formed to represent maritime workers in Australia, with Australia being the first country in the world to form a maritime union.

On 2 August 1872, seamen gathered at Sydney’s Oriental Hotel to consider the advisability of forming a seamen’s union, with the first formal seamen’s union established in Melbourne on 21 September 1872. Similarly, on 17 September 1872, 400-500 wharf labourers met at Sydney’s Oriental Hotel to discuss wages and the formation of a society to advocate for workers. The object of this new society was “to benefit the condition of the labourer socially, morally and politically” (SMH 19 September 1872).

With the shipping industry and the trade in wool, wheat and coal booming across Australia as well as growing exports to Europe, it was timely for wharf labourers and seamen to establish formal unions to advocate for workers, particularly the casual workers that were employed by shipowners.

Wharf labourers, commonly known as wharfies, or in Western Australia as lumpers, undertook work that was physically taxing and demanded long hours, with shifts sometimes lasting in excess of 24 hours. While stevedores generally handled cargo within the holds of ships, wharfies and lumpers usually managed cargo between the wharves and vessels. It wasn’t unusual for wharfies to “carry loads in excess of 350 pounds on their backs for up to 20 to 30 yards” (Beasley 1996). The work was also unreliable, and casual workers would sometimes wait on the docks for long periods, hoping to pick up work.

Seamen in Australia represented all nationalities, races and religions and worked on all variety of vessels including passenger liners, trawlers, colliers, cattle ships, copra ships and cruisers. They were kept busy in ports right across Australia, particularly Port Jackson in Sydney, Hobson’s Bay in Melbourne and Port Adelaide in South Australia. Prior to the formation of the first unions representing seamen, it was common to work more than 80 hours per week for little more than £1 per week, bunking in “foul, over-crowded and airless” quarters and eating “whatever food the skipper liked to provide” (Fitzpatrick & Cahill 1981, p. xv).

Following the formation of the first seamen’s union in Melbourne on 21 September 1872, seamen in Sydney formed their own branch on 14 December 1874. By the mid-1870s, the two groups had formed a loose federation. They were then joined by seamen in other states, including the Port Adelaide Seamen’s Union in April 1877.  In 1878, seamen were involved in Australia’s first Intercolonial dispute, when they struck in protest of the Australasian Steam Navigation Company’s (ASNC) decision to sack its Australian workforce and replace them with Chinese seamen. On 17 November 1878, seamen in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland went on strike, supported by wharfies in the three states and miners in New South Wales. 

A small number of wharfies in Sydney defied the strike and loaded ships crewed by the Chinese. On 7 December, strikers protested outside the Australasian Steam Navigation Company wharf but where met by a large police contingent, resulting in many of the protesters being physically beaten.

On 2 January 1879, the ASNC capitulated and agreed to re-employ the terminated Australian workers and discharge the Chinese workers over the next two years.    

 

 

References

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

Beasley, M 1996, Wharfies: A History of the Waterside Workers’ Federation of Australia, Halstead Press, Rushcutters Bay.

 

Wharfies working at Parbury's Wharf, Millers Point, New South Wales, undated (Z248-82-15-04). Photographer - Kerry Photo, Sydney.

Wharfies working at Parbury's Wharf, Millers Point, New South Wales, undated (Z248-82-15-04). Photographer - Kerry Photo, Sydney.

Waterside Workers' Federation Brisbane Branch Executive, undated (Z432-86).

Waterside Workers' Federation Brisbane Branch Executive, undated (Z432-86).

Page from Federated Seamen's Union of Australasia Queensland Branch minute book, 1888-1891.

Page from Federated Seamen's Union of Australasia Queensland Branch minute book, 1888-1891.

Page from the Federated Seamen's Union of Australasia membership register, 1876-1877 (E183-34-1).

Page from the Federated Seamen's Union of Australasia membership register, 1876-1877 (E183-34-1).

Circular Quay, Sydney, New South Wales, c. late 1800s (Z153-126). Circular Quay was occupied by a number of company wharves employing many wharfies and seamen.

Circular Quay, Sydney, New South Wales, c. late 1800s (Z153-126). Circular Quay was occupied by a number of company wharves employing many wharfies and seamen.