16 August 1890: Maritime Workers Hold Unified Strike, Government Fears Loss To International Business
Title
16 August 1890: Maritime Workers Hold Unified Strike, Government Fears Loss To International Business
Subject
The Maritime Strike of 1890
Description
Article announcing the beginning of the shipping strike as negotiation had failed to resolve the disputes between ship owners and the labor unions, It outlines the strike procedures and forecasts the implications it will have on intercolonial trade, especially coal.
Creator
The Age
Source
Trove
Publisher
National Library of Australia
Date
16th August 1890
Contributor
Meg Hinkley
Rights
National Library of Australia
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Digitised Newspaper article
Text
STRIKE IN THE SHIPPING TRADE.
THE OFFICERS DECIDE TO COME OUT. ATTITUDE OF THE SHIP OWNERS.
THE TRADES HALL SUPPORTS THE OFFICERS.
The threatened difficulties in the shipping trade have resulted in a strike amongst the officers of the intercolonial steamer 3, and considering the numerous disputes that are pending at the present time the affair is not likely to be settled without a prolonged conflict between the ship owners and the labor unions. On Thursday evening the hope was entertained that the par ties at issue would be brought together, and that an amicable understanding would be effected without involving the whole community in a widespread commercial disaster. The attempts at mediation wore renewed yesterday morning, but the relations between the owners and the officers were too strained to permit of n reconciliation, and after some futile negotiations the men announced their intentions of leaving the ships to-day. After the hopeful appearance of things on the previous day, the news will come as a shook to all sections of the public. It is difficult to give even an approximate estimate of the results to be expected from the notion of the marine officers in deciding to go on strike, but it is almost certain that the rupture once commenced will go on widening for some time to come. The immediate effect will not be very great, for the number of officers who can leave their posts at once is very limited indeed. The articles signed by the officers pro- vide that 24 hours' notice shall be given before they can leave their steamers, and this can only be done in the port of discharge. The notices were not given till yesterday afternoon, and so the steamers that sail to-day— the Rodondo for Sydney and Newcastle, the Flora for Emu Bay, the Cintra for Sydney and the Taupo for Fiji- will probably be clear of the port before the time has expired. The officers on board will therefore be detained at their posts until the vessels return, and it is only those whose steamers sail next week that will be able to go on strike. It is not expected that the ship owners will submit passively to the action taken by the men, and no doubt a strenuous attempt will be made to fill the vacant places with non-society men. It is known that there are a number of officers about who are out of employment, and there are others who have given up the sea and engaged in other pursuits, but whether or not these men will be willing to take the vacant places can only be shown by the course of events. It is not expected that the other maritime labor unions will be asked to come out in sympathy, at any rate at present, but probably their own disputes will drag them into the arena sooner or later. The steamship owners made up their minds to resist any further demands from the unions for the present, and seeing that the labor organisations are equally firm on the proposals already put forward, a general conflict appears to be inevitable, though it is impossible to say how soon the intercolonial steamers will 'actually be laid up. The sailing vessels are not likely to be affected in the same way, and every effort will be made to carry on the trade by, bringing all the available craft into immediate requisition ; - but the assistance thus afforded can only be of a very partial character. Thirty or forty powerful steamers, with capacities ranging from 1000 to 3000 tons, are not easily replaced, and to a large extent the trade they carry on cannot be done in any other way. The northern colonics must necessarily suffer very largely from the restriction of Victorian exports in the way of flour, oats and vegetable produce, but with regard to the goods brought into the colony the trade in coal is so immense that it seems to overshadow everything else. Several ships manned with foreign brews, it is stated, proceeded to Newcastle with the intention of waiting the issue of events, and in case of a general strike to load, with coal, which will be brought on to Melbourne. -As the crews of those vessels were engaged in foreign ports, they are bound to remain by their ship and work it. It is believed that in this way a considerable quantity of coal will be brought to Victoria, though prices are certain to be high, and the outlook for consumers is anything but a cheerful one.
THE OFFICERS DECIDE TO COME OUT. ATTITUDE OF THE SHIP OWNERS.
THE TRADES HALL SUPPORTS THE OFFICERS.
The threatened difficulties in the shipping trade have resulted in a strike amongst the officers of the intercolonial steamer 3, and considering the numerous disputes that are pending at the present time the affair is not likely to be settled without a prolonged conflict between the ship owners and the labor unions. On Thursday evening the hope was entertained that the par ties at issue would be brought together, and that an amicable understanding would be effected without involving the whole community in a widespread commercial disaster. The attempts at mediation wore renewed yesterday morning, but the relations between the owners and the officers were too strained to permit of n reconciliation, and after some futile negotiations the men announced their intentions of leaving the ships to-day. After the hopeful appearance of things on the previous day, the news will come as a shook to all sections of the public. It is difficult to give even an approximate estimate of the results to be expected from the notion of the marine officers in deciding to go on strike, but it is almost certain that the rupture once commenced will go on widening for some time to come. The immediate effect will not be very great, for the number of officers who can leave their posts at once is very limited indeed. The articles signed by the officers pro- vide that 24 hours' notice shall be given before they can leave their steamers, and this can only be done in the port of discharge. The notices were not given till yesterday afternoon, and so the steamers that sail to-day— the Rodondo for Sydney and Newcastle, the Flora for Emu Bay, the Cintra for Sydney and the Taupo for Fiji- will probably be clear of the port before the time has expired. The officers on board will therefore be detained at their posts until the vessels return, and it is only those whose steamers sail next week that will be able to go on strike. It is not expected that the ship owners will submit passively to the action taken by the men, and no doubt a strenuous attempt will be made to fill the vacant places with non-society men. It is known that there are a number of officers about who are out of employment, and there are others who have given up the sea and engaged in other pursuits, but whether or not these men will be willing to take the vacant places can only be shown by the course of events. It is not expected that the other maritime labor unions will be asked to come out in sympathy, at any rate at present, but probably their own disputes will drag them into the arena sooner or later. The steamship owners made up their minds to resist any further demands from the unions for the present, and seeing that the labor organisations are equally firm on the proposals already put forward, a general conflict appears to be inevitable, though it is impossible to say how soon the intercolonial steamers will 'actually be laid up. The sailing vessels are not likely to be affected in the same way, and every effort will be made to carry on the trade by, bringing all the available craft into immediate requisition ; - but the assistance thus afforded can only be of a very partial character. Thirty or forty powerful steamers, with capacities ranging from 1000 to 3000 tons, are not easily replaced, and to a large extent the trade they carry on cannot be done in any other way. The northern colonics must necessarily suffer very largely from the restriction of Victorian exports in the way of flour, oats and vegetable produce, but with regard to the goods brought into the colony the trade in coal is so immense that it seems to overshadow everything else. Several ships manned with foreign brews, it is stated, proceeded to Newcastle with the intention of waiting the issue of events, and in case of a general strike to load, with coal, which will be brought on to Melbourne. -As the crews of those vessels were engaged in foreign ports, they are bound to remain by their ship and work it. It is believed that in this way a considerable quantity of coal will be brought to Victoria, though prices are certain to be high, and the outlook for consumers is anything but a cheerful one.
Original Format
Newspaper
Files
Citation
The Age, “16 August 1890: Maritime Workers Hold Unified Strike, Government Fears Loss To International Business,” THE VICTORIAN TRADES HALL: AN ARCHIVAL HISTORY, accessed May 4, 2024, https://bpeddlesdenweds2.omeka.net/items/show/51.