Then and Now

[Captain Kong]

Hi John
The War bonus was paid from 17 September 1939, and paid for by the Government, it was £3 a Month.
in March 1940 it was increased to £5 a month.
An AB was on £9 . 6 shillings a month
in March 1942 he was on £12 6 shillings. plus the £5 bonus.
Cheers
Brian

[happy daze john in oz]

Somehow little has changed when it comes to shipping in and out of oz ports.
Ship owners will not take on an y Australian seamen who have an Australian address.
If thye do then they must pay them under Oz rates of pay and conditions, that includes such things as long service leave and leave loading.

[j.sabourn]

John the 11 years I sailed in the offshore here never saw. What you are saying. For starters it was a closed shop and ypu had to be a member of the Guild , the Engineers Union, or the Seaman’s Union , if not you weren’t employed. I know the Guild was hard to get into and they would only employ those who lived in Australia. The salarys were set out in black and white and there was no negotiating, The money was the best I have seen at sea, the same as the conditions. This was from 1991 to 2002. Conditions may have been different before and after these dates I don’t know. But I had nothing to complain about re. Conditions of service. Have heard on the grapevine however conditions have.detiorated. Since then. Cheers JS