67 NUS Strike memories

[j.sabourn]

For those who can remember the abortive strike at the time, do you consider you were better off financially before or after. My memorys of same I was on an ore carrier in Port Talbot locked in. Some of the crew were stony broke when they came back, a lot of good men threw their hand in over it. We had 2 seamen we had to smuggle on board the night before the strike officially finished as they had no where to sleep. I was mate on the ship and was told all weekend overtime was out except for essential duties. The watchkeepers were cut back to 1 man if the ship had automatic steering, and a bell was fitted from the bridge to the messroom, so this was really the start of the demanning process in 1967. There was therefore no lookouts as we had always been told were necessary. I remember one instant of someone coming to ship and asking how many men I had on focsle tying up. When I explained it needed sometime 3 men on the backspring, which was a heavy wire with a large heavy rope tail it disappeared from use when I was home on leave and a wire or rope was henceforth used. The carpenter of course was the first to disappear and the rating AB/Handyman appeared in his place for a short time, before he also disappeared on most vessels, all soundings etc were usually done by whoever was available. I left British Shipping for a few years and went for the yankee dollar, but was really disgusted at some of the treatment that some got in British ships. When you consider that most of these ore carriers were on BISCO charter (Government) and there was little outlay for the shipowner as regards overtime etc. I believe this industrial dispute had been well thought out beforehand and the only loosers were as usual the seamen. I maybe wrong and some may have thought they were better off after, I dont really know as , as I said I went elsewhere. Cheers John Sabourn.

[Chris Allman]

I feel we were all the poorer for the strike.

It was certainly not just the strike and its implications regarding extra cost to the shipping companies which saw us much poorer, but it had a hand in the demise of the British M.N.

It was at the beginning of the end but not the sole reason because there were a number of other more important factors. A drop in trade with other countries, due to new government market deals with Europe, hence a drop in shipping company profits, the birth of containerization, and the introduction of technology and automated machinery were also factors which led to the downfall of the British Merchant Navy. British shipping companies were not prepared for the swift changes, tending to lag behind other countries which were looking towards the future and preparing for it. Blu Flu were a good example of this lack of foresight with the introduction of the Super P's, if they had looked to containerization, they may have lasted a lot longer. Other companies just did not have the money to invest in new vessels and waved the white towel while the rest just merged with others or faded into obscurity.

Chris.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmate I missed our strike was at sea at that time knew nothing about it untill I came home, we were not informed of any industry action on the ship , The Miners strike I was on a coaster the cargo was coal to france, never saw anyone on any picket line near any ship or dock?

[Stuart Henderson]

I was C/S on Cunard ship in Huskisson Dock during 67 strike. Nothing to do of course as no catering going on cooks/stewards on strike too. Used to shoot off in afternoon and catch train to Blackpool,Southport or along N Wales coastline where Id never visted previously. Trouble was it was like running the gauntlet through the picket line with shouts of scab (and worse) ringing in my ears, and me a member of officers union too but I did enjoy my trips and I enjoyed that.

Another time in a Canadian port the crew went on strike for 24 hours and walked off and stayed on dockside. forget the year but sixties I believe. Blow mw at lunchtime t some drifted back aboard and said wheres the lunch then Chief. I said go and ask the cook hes out there somewhere on strike, Much mumbling...... The Canadian Seamans union came to their aid with sandwiches & coffee later on though. The officers helped themselves from the pantry.
Stuart H

[Geoff Anderson]

I was in Fremantle WA during the strike ,aboard the Hornby Grange and on charter to Shaw Savill, we were under going repairs after a bad storm in the australian bight had knocked us around a bit. The deck and engine room decided to back the strike and walk off the ship in support of the strike, we only managed to reach the gangway before the cops arrived. The old man had called them, he was standing on board waving his log book telling us he was going to have us charged with mutiny and "its still a hanging offence you know". The cops stood on the quayside ready to cart us off to the local nick if we put foot on shore. We were only saved by the docker and tugboat men's unions as they came out on strike in sympathy, shutting down the harbour and mediating on our behalf. After a few hours we were allowed to re board the ship our protest duly recorded. The ring leaders received a double DR and i cant remember if we were all logged or not and we were all blacklisted from Shaw Savill and Holders. I only become aware of this when two of us were sent to join a swivel boat in Cardiff, everything was going on fine with the sign on, until they read our discharge book and saw the Hornby Grange , then we were both knocked back with "we don't need your sort on board", two more were replacements were sent from the pool to replace us.
One of the ring leaders was a Mosa Nolan, if i remember correctly Brian Proberts has fond memories of dealing with him on another ship LOL

[Capt Bill Davies]

All good points John but, check your dates, I always thought the strike was in 66.

Bill

[robpage]

16th May to 1st July 1966 , but what's a year amongst friends , I have been owed cash longer than that !

[Captain Kong]

that is right Rob.
I had just got married and got a shore job so missed it. went back to sea afterwards.
I did the 1955 AND 1960 STRIKES then thrown off the Pool,
Those two strkes me cost a lot of money
I think our John Prescott had something to do with that one.
Brian

[Capt Bill Davies]

Maybe but I recall it in ship terms. I was Ch.Mate of a tanker at the time.

Bill

[robpage]

The one I remember well was the January 1981 Strike Which , I think was John Slater as John Prescott was the MP for Hull by then ,From memory , the wages had gone up so the shipowners response was to slash overtime . Because of Anchorage , Shifting ship along the quayside payments and several local agreements the crew on the Weymouth Channel Isle Car Ferry could earn up to 130 hours overtime in a week , making their week , over 180 hours , and they went home virtually every night , So the payment system was badly flawed . When I went there in 1975 the Engineers on the car Ferry had similar overtime and that was a really good earner , but the Classic Passenger Ferries did less and earned less , so they out voted the car Ferry guys and accepted a consolidated wage across the fleet . I cannot promise the dates are correct as it is solely from memory . I remember the occasion as I was ship-keeping and wandered ashore for a pint or three in the George on the Quay , a militant AB , who I did not recognise tried to tell me that returning to my cabin was crossing an official picket line , and he was going to stop me . Well he took umbrage later , after getting back to my cabin , I rang the fourth engineer on watch and pulled the breakers on the heaters at the top of the gangway in the Gunport door , Well it was an official Picket , play silly beggars and he obviously on principle would not have wanted to use the Railway's electricity to keep warm with . It was a silly dispute to get involved in at Weymouth as teh wages there would npot jhave been affected , and I believe the argument was for 1 1/2 overtime payment . Under the agreements there , that was a ludicrous suggestion