International Solidarity and the POAL dispute

CARL FINDLAY NATIONAL PRESIDENT

I have worked on the waterfront for the last 20 years and been a member of the Maritime Union from day one. There has always been a small number of the membership that are prepared to have a moan about certain union policies and overseas travel for union business has always been a hot topic. If a plane flew overhead a member would always joke “there goes the National Secretary and President off on another union funded junket!”

All financial members are entitled to their opinions, but my view this could not be further from the truth.

We don’t have to look very far back in our own maritime history to see what international solidarity has helped us achieve, improve and sometimes just maintain the status quo. The relationships and bonds we have with our brothers and sisters around the world was not built on Tik Tok or Facebook, these relationships were built on face-to-face gatherings and engaging with likeminded human beings at conferences and union business meetings.

The 2008 Port of Napier and 2012 Port of Auckland disputes are classic examples of what can be achieve when the working class across the globe collaborate and support a work force trying to achieve a common goal. During these troubled times and especially during the Ports of Auckland dispute our international comrades from the International Transport Federation (ITF), International Longshore Warehouse Union (ILWU), Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and others stood shoulder to shoulder with the Maritime Union of New Zealand Local 13. This was not just financially and physically but they also represented our views at international meetings with employers and company owners in places like Singapore, Rotterdam and London. ITF President Paddy Crumlin was instrumental in arranging highlevel meetings in Singapore and Rotterdam.

“Big Bob” McEllrath (now retired) from the ILWU asked all the Presidents from the USA West Coast locals to leave the United States to fly to New Zealand and support MUNZ on the pickets. Ray Familathe (the then ILWU VP) led the US delegation on the ground and it’s my understandingis this was the first time in their history that all ILWU Local Presidents had left the States at the same time to support MUNZ. This is a remarkable sign of solidarity and respect for our union.

Our close cousins across the ditch from the MUA, led by now retired officials Mick Doleman and Joe Deakin also went above and beyond with a large delegation of officials and rank and file members who turned up on our shores in support. Also our comrades from the ETU lead by Peter Simpson (RIP) and National Secretary Allen Hicks who

were that keen even after we started back to work, they kept sending delegations.

On Saturday 10 March 2012 approximately 7000 working class people attended

our protest march to support our fight against Ports of Auckland anti-family and anti-union agenda. Our international guests were front and center at our protest march that started at the bottom of Queen Street moving along Quay Street to the Auckland container terminal entrance. A Ports of Auckland spokesperson is reported as saying that the wharfies were having a stroll with ‘rent a crowd’.

Who would have believed that thousands of people would turn up for a protest march supporting wharfies? At the time this was truly inspirational stuff and laid the strong foundation of determination and courage required to see the dispute through to the end. Many other internationals need to be thanked for their contributions and support including the mighty FNV Dutch Dockers, RMT (Rail Maritime Transport UK), and ILA (International Longshoremen Association.)

Looking back, it was a remarkable feat to pull this physical symbol of international and local solidarity together in a short space of time. From these disputes, the solidarity still lives on and is flourishing today.

You just need to look at the sister port relationships between our Wellington branch MUNZ and Western Australia branch MUA, and Auckland Local 13 MUNZ and the Sydney branch MUA. Through sports and other events our solidarity grows and engages the younger generations into what unions and solidarity are all about. Touch football, tag footy and thousands of dollars raised in War on the Wharves charity boxing events are all part of ongoing international support and solidarity.

In 2022 the bonds are stronger than ever with another War on the Wharves Charity boxing event planned in Sydney as part of the Maritime Union of Australia 150 year anniversary celebrations and MUNZ will be there. In 2023 the War on the Wharves charity fight night is planned for Hawaii where we will be taking a combined team from the Maritime Union of New Zealand and Australia (MUNZA) to Hawaii as an exhibition of how our international solidarity has grown and in support for our Hawaiian brothers and sisters.

It doesn’t always need to be about a fight, but if the employer wants a fight, then they better understand international solidarity will never go away. That is one big reason the Maritime Union Local 13 remain unbroken. Thank you all.