The Formation of the Waterside Workers' Federation
Although the various state branches of wharf labourers had federated in 1890, it was not until 7 February 1902 that the Waterside Workers’ Federation (WWF) was registered, when the state branches met with the purpose of forming a federal body and electing a federal committee. Driving the move for federation was William ‘Billy’ Hughes, a member of the first Commonwealth Parliament and General Secretary of the Sydney Wharf Labourers’ Union. He would later go on to be Prime Minister of Australia.
Most branches were keen to federate and at a meeting held in Melbourne in February 1902, the following local waterfront unions announced their intentions to form a federation: Sydney Wharf Labourers, Port Phillip Stevedores, Port Pirie, Mackay, Townsville, Thursday Island, Cairns, Brisbane, Maryborough, Fremantle Lumpers, Geraldton Lumpers and Albany. The Fremantle and Albany unions rescinded their intentions, but in April 1902, waterfront unions in Newcastle, Rockhampton, Bowen, Cooktown, Hobart, Strahan, Bunbury and Melbourne joined, resulting in a federation of 6,260 members representing 18 different branches.
Billy Hughes was elected inaugural WWF president. He was joined by Andrew Fisher, who would also go on to serve as Prime Minister, as well as F.W. Bamford (Vice-President), Joe Morris (Secretary) and Senator de Largie (Treasurer). Hughes held the position of General President until his famous expulsion in 1916, when he was removed from the union due to his support of conscription during the First World War. During his time as General President, Hughes had to work with a number of internal divisions. For example, when the union sought a meeting with the Australian Steamship Owners’ Federation in 1902 to discuss a wage increase, the Melbourne Wharf Labourers refused to be involved, arguing that they were happy with their current deal.
In 1913, a branch conference decided upon establishing the full-time paid position of Secretary, noting that the role had become too large to manage part-time on a wage of just £1 per week. Matthew McCabe of the Brisbane Branch was elected with an absolute majority, somewhat surprisingly over Joe Morris from Melbourne, who had served as a part-time secretary since 1902. Members paid one shilling each towards McCabe’s wages.
Up until 1913, wages and conditions on the waterfront were based on individual port agreements, but at the union’s 1913 conference, the decision was made to approach the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration to set a Commonwealth award. The case was heard by Justice Higgins in March and April 1914, although his focus at that time was just on the wages part of the case. Billy Hughes appeared at the court on behalf of the union, which was a source of great consternation of the employers owing to the fact that he was a qualified barrister. After a four month hearing, on 13 December 1915, the first comprehensive Commonwealth Award was created, although it was noted that “uniformity of conditions in all respects in the ports of Australia is impracticable” (Healy n.d.). The working week was set at 44 hours, with double rates paid for holidays and Saturday afternoons. The minimum shift time was set at 2 hours and the maximum at 12 hours, instead of the previous 24 hours.
References
Healy, J n.d., A Brief History of the Australian Waterfront and the Waterside Workers’ Unions, Waterside Workers’ Federation Sydney Branch Deposit (Z468).
