The Guardian 1 February, 2006
A proud record 75 years of
communist activity in maritime industry
Harry Black
Address by Harry Black at the 75th Anniversary of the Maritime Branch, CPA celebrations in Sydney, December 7, 2005.
It was 1930, the Great Depression stalking the country, dole queues were lengthy. Landlords were harassing householders for unpaid rent and police and bailiffs were throwing families onto the streets.
The Federal Labor Government, led by Prime Minister Scullin had meekly surrendered to Sir Otto Niemeyer who came to Australia as a debt collector for the Bank of England. He successfully recommended a 10 per cent cut in wages and social services.
The economic crisis and this Depression once again demonstrated the failure of Labor Governments to defend the interests of workers. The onslaught of the Depression affected badly the Maritime Industry. Wharfies had not yet recovered from the consequences of the 1928 strike and were disorganised, disunited and poorly led.
As a result of Prime Minister Bruce’s 1928 Transport Workers Act, non-unionists were allowed to take wharfies’ jobs. It was estimated in 1930 that nearly 60 percent of ships were laid up, forcing heavy unemployment for seamen.
Hundreds of workers took to the tracks looking for work, "jumping the rattler" for transport from town to town.
However the events of 1928 and the commencement of the Great Depression of 1929 made many workers realise the value of organisation.
Strong influence
The Communist Party had been formed in 1920 and their members were busy and having an impact in workers’ organisations; they gave great leadership to unemployed workers, assisting evicted families and their presence in the maritime industry was felt to good effect.
In 1930 the first branch of the Communist Party was formed on the Sydney waterfront. This was a vital decision and was to prove over the next 75 years the decisive factor in the progress and development of waterside workers and seamen in the maritime industry.
The influence of the Communist Party members in the industry and the development of programs and policies and the united front forged the union into a leading position in the trade union movement and a significant force in international union campaigns.
The first Secretary of the Communist Party Branch was Joe Crowe from Millers Point. They struggled on with five or six members and then in 1935, Tom Nelson became Secretary. Tom had honed his militant activities in the shearing sheds of NSW, Queensland and Victoria and later was to lead Sydney Wharfies Union for 25 years.
This was a time of dramatic development
A number of developments were of a negative nature. Twenty-five percent unemployment, Japanese imperial forces were waging war against the Chinese people and war clouds were darkening the skies of Europe.
While the negative aspects were capturing the headlines the Communist Party was growing in strength and influence. Sydney wharfies were seeking the advice and leadership of Communist Party Branch members.
Strong union
Jim Healy, legendary leader of the Waterside Workers’ Federation (WWF). was elected General Secretary in 1937 and Eliot Elliott became General Secretary of the Seamen’s Union in 1941.
Under the direction of Communists the WWF in Sydney became a powerful union influence, enhanced at job level by dedicated job delegates whose commitment to job organisation, award rights, safety and union principles were unsurpassed in the trade union movement.
Arts centre
On the initiative of Party comrades the Union Rooms at 60 Sussex Street became a centre for music, films and creative art. The artistic and hard hitting political creations for May Day won the applause of thousands on the street.
Art classes for members and their children highlighted the participation of members in the affairs of the union.
The lasting legacy of all this activity has been the now famous waterfront mural and the outstanding waterfront films.
An all-male industry for many decades, the magnificent work and activity of the Wharfies and Seamen’s Women’s Committees and the vitality and sincerity they displayed in union campaigns has been recorded.
In these 75 years of Party work on the waterfront we point with pride to the 46 years that Ina Heidtman worked as the Office Administrator of the Sydney Office of the WWF. She has been a member of the Maritime Branch for 53 years, and still is today. Anne Duffy is another tireless member, fearless in her Party work and a leading participant in many campaigns, well known to wharfies and seamen alike.
Difficulties of party work
Working as a Party member has not always been easy. Party members were denied jobs; copped discrimination, slander and violence from disgruntled Labor Party members and "bulls" and some misled rank and file members.
In the 1930s and ’40s they defended in a physical sense their Sussex Street corner (near the old union rooms) and sold the Tribune and distributed their waterfront bulletin The Wharfie. We recall with pleasure the words of Stan Moran at the height of the defeat of the Bull System: "We took the waterfront by the scruff of the neck and turned it upside down".
Police spies infiltrated our ranks and bosses, assisted by the mass media, slandered our Party comrades in the maritime industry and the government banned the The Wharfie publication.
But Party members, with correct work and positive policies overcame these negative aspects.
The banner of the United Front was raised by Party Comrades. Progressive members of the Labor Party saw the wisdom of the Party’s campaign to build a united front and, for their trouble, were expelled from the Labor Party.
The United Front earned high praise and industrial and political rewards.
However, some negative elements entered our work within the Party, splits and disunity occurred, but despite all that the Maritime Branch is again moving up the ladder of opportunity.
Today, as we proclaim our achievements and celebrate 75 years of Party activity within the maritime industry, we declare at the same time the need for a stronger, ideologically advanced Maritime Party branch, one that has never been greater.
The decades of the ’30s and ’40s were dangerous periods for the trade union movement.
Conservatives go on offensive
Conservative governments launched sustained attacks on working conditions. The Menzies Government with the backing of powerful ruling class forces commenced its 23 years of rule by attempting to ban the Communist Party and drive leading members of the Labor Party into political oblivion.
Menzies hated the trade union movement and in 1954 and 1956 launched an all out attack against the WWF with the powerful backing of shipping interests and the media.
At the same time he drummed up the Petrov Royal Commission against unionists and the Communist Party.
When the Fraser Government won the election in 1975, it immediately launched a savage attack on the trade unions, bringing into law penalties of a severe pattern against trade unions. At the same time Fraser had control of both Houses of Parliament.
History has a habit of repeating itself and the Howard Government has learnt some lessons from that period and upped the ante against working people and their organisations.
In this immediate period the most savage legislation is endangering the whole trade union movement. Prime Minister Howard is pursuing a course of naked class warfare against unions and individual unionists.
This is an offensive against every working man and woman in this country. It is aimed at the best traditions of the working and middle class. It is a dangerous and vicious attack against the sick, the unemployed and pensioners.
The actions of the Howard Government have the trappings and elements of fascist ideology. It must be stopped!
Trade Unions are fighting back
The ACTU heads the fight with skill and determination. Our Party Branch comrades have joined the fight-back in the best traditions established over 75 years.
The Maritime Branch will remain in the struggle, guided by the wisdom and values of a mature party and the principle of a powerful united front. It will be a long and hard struggle, but united we will win a historic victory.
Young new members are joining our ranks and participating with energy and again making their presence felt on the job.
Today we look back on a history of creative activity, of achievements and values of the highest order. We are building platforms for further advancement and we are approaching the future with confidence.
NB: The AGM of the Maritime Branch held in December 2005 took the decision to produce a booklet on the history of the Branch and this project is now underway.