1966

[happy daze john in oz]

John, the situation here in the 50's and 60's on the wharfs was evidence that at some time things would have to change in a dramatic manner.
Things were so bad some shipping companies would not come here fearful that once here the ship could, and no doubt would, be held up for weeks by strikes.
We arrived in July 64 on what was scheduled as six weeks, it went to almost three months.
The work ethics, if you could call them that, were some of the worst there were, strikes called over such matters as late arrival of cold condition clothing. It was bad!!!!!

Yes unions had their use, but today many complain about the cost of living, do they understand that the cost is a reflection of wages and wholesale prices. All wage increases have to be passed on.

But the Unions have on occasions been their own worst enemy.
When at the Uni my staff, many union members, were asked if they would consider an enterprise agreement? Costs and wages were rising and with penalty rates making times hard.
They agreed on one condition, the Union was not involved.
Spoke with human Resources who said yes that was legal.
We negotiated and had it ratified by the commission.

Week later a Scottish lady and a Kiwi one turned up. Two very tough looking ones and by their opening speech made sure we knew it.
They ranted and raved that we had broken the law by not involving them in negotiations.
When told by the shop steward that is how the staff wanted it they said they would have it overturned.
Nothing further happened and they never visited again.

[j.sabourn]

Seems to me there has been extreme faults on both sides of the equation. Enterprise bargaining in lots of ways means from the shipowners side..these are the conditions take them or leave them. I was before shipping went belly up in a position where I could ask my own wage on foreign vessels if they were stuck. Coming back on British vessels if they were federated could go straight on to seniority money which normally couldn’t. All the law of supply and demand. However there are still shipowners and British ones at that that pay what they want and laugh at you, I found this out the hard way, and had no choice but to accept or go on the unemployment list. I am just pleased I went the course and retired before what exists today. The shipowner used the exuberance of youth to man his ships, but youth matures and he made no allowances for such. It was a hire and fire job and has always been so. All casual labour in most cases. With little or no future to it. Just ask yourselves where did the 130,000 seamen of one time go to. Even knocking off the 30,000 plus lost during the war. JS

[Robin Deal]

As in a previous post about home life.. apart from 12 weeks ashore for last certificate in 1963, the seaman’s strike of 1966 was the longest I had with the family for many years.............................

Seamen in my opinion came back worse off than what they were when they went ashore before the strike. Shortly after I saw the decline in British shipping which was due to come and made hot tracks to other flags. I will always believe 1966 was the start of the decline of British shipping which was ably assisted by the government of the day , by changing legislation to assist the shipowner to do so. JS

I agree with you in my opinion the strike was a complete was of time and money for all Merchant Seaman. They flew us from Hamburg to Manston in Kent to support the strike and I was living in Braintree at the time as my parents had split up. They told us to collect our strike money weekly from Tilbury so the first week I jumped on a bus to Chelmsford then onto Tilbury. The money l received by the time I paid the bus fare I only had just over £1 left. So you guessed it l sat the final 5 weeks out with no income whatsoever but no one contacted me from the union at all. As an AB it was hard in 1966 to survive that terrible unfortunate period. Regards Bob Deal.

[Louis the fly]

I could have sailed before the strike began in 66 as my leave had ended. I decided , rightly so in my opinion , that I would be letting down my fellow seaman by shipping out and leaving them to it. Unlike you Robin I enjoyed the strike , there had never been before so many seamen all home at the same time. Friends and faces I had not seen for a while , catching up with where they had been and remembering the ships we sailed on together. We were all skint living on £3 a week union pay but after a day on the picket line a tarpaulin muster would get us a pint.

[Trader]

I always find it amusing when those who have not been to sea can take sides on this issue, often union persons but not always.
I had just come ashore in 66 and had taken up work in Jersey for the season, a season cut short as the ferries stopped running when the strike hit.
So many other people were hurt by this one, but that is often the case in many instances of strikes.
Those worst hit are the unfortunate bystanders.

John, if you still see John Reagan (Manchester Shipping Federation) ask him if he remembers attending the strike meetings in the Methodist Central Hall in Salford in 1960 during an unofficial strike we had in those days. I hope he is keeping well, give him my best regards. Alec Sheldon.

[happy daze john in oz]

John, if you still see John Reagan (Manchester Shipping Federation) ask him if he remembers attending the strike meetings in the Methodist Central Hall in Salford in 1960 during an unofficial strike we had in those days. I hope he is keeping well, give him my best regards. Alec Sheldon.

Will do mate.
Every Friday I work with a lady who works at the place he now resides in, a good quality aged care facility.
I will pass the message on.