Permanent & Casual Wharf Labourers Union of Australia

The Permanent & Casual Wharf Labourers Union of Australia (PCWLU) was an Australian union for maritime labourers.

P.C.W.L.U.
Full namePermanent and Casual Wharf Labourers' Union of Australia
Founded1917
Date dissolved1950
Merged intoWaterside Workers' Federation
CountryAustralia

The Union was established in opposition to the Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia. Branches were founded by "loyalists" in Sydney in response to the General Strike of 1917 and amalgamated in 1919.[1][2] The union was not affiliated with Trades Hall,[3] and was subsequently registered in 1926 under the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Act (1904), and reregistered in the following year.[4][5] Conflict between the two unions erupted into physical violence in 1931 on the steamer Kowarra moored at Lee Wharf in Newcastle.[6] In 1946 the union applied for affiliation with its rival but was rebuffed on the charge that they were communist-controlled,[2] and was eventually deregistered in 1950 [4] after merging as a distinct branch of the Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia.[7]

Officials included:

  • Melbourne Branch
    • Charles Burchell - Branch secretary 1928/9 [3][8][9][10]
    • Lionel Lewis - Legal advisor 1928/9 [3][8]
    • John Daniel - Branch president 1928/9 [3][9]
  • Sydney Branch
    • David Shields - Union secretary 1929 [8]
    • F. Werry - Secretary 1924-7 [11][12][13]
    • James M'Intosh - Secretary 1919 [14]
  • Newcastle Branch
    • A. Forbes - Branch secretary 1936 [15]
  • Brisbane Branch
    • John Broadbent - Secretary 1933 [16]
  • Adelaide Branch
  • Hobart Branch

See also

References
  1. Loyalist Branches to Amalgamate, The Mercury, 16 May 1919, p5c
  2. Communists not wanted by Waterside Union CT 24 July 1946 Page 2e
  3. Work and Wages - New Wharf Labourers' Union - Waterside Federation Attacked, Argus 14 Jan 1929 p11b
  4. Parties to the Award - Chart 16 Maritime & Stevedoring
  5. Commonwealth Arbitration Court SMH 17 Nov 1926 Page 12b
  6. Rival Unionists – Free Fight on Wharf SMH 30 Apr 1931 Page 13
  7. Waterside Workers - federation Admits Casuals' Union, West Australian, 13 April 1950, p4e
  8. Expulsions Alleged - Appeal to Court - Casual Wharf Labourers' Union, Argus 26 Oct 1929 p17a
  9. Volunteers Organise, Argus 22 Oct 1928 p8a
  10. Permanent & Casual Wharf Labourers Union of Australia.- Victorian Branch.- Annual Meeting, Argus 7 Feb 1929 p1c
  11. Industrial Commission - Waterside Workers, Sydney Morning Herald 12 Jul 1926 p8d
  12. Casual Workers' Union - Offers New Scheme - For Industrial Peace, Sydney Morning Herald 6 Dec 1927 p12b
  13. Industrial Court - Reconstitution of a Board, Sydney Morning Herald 22 May 1924 p6c
  14. Overseas trade - Appeal to England, Sydney Morning Herald 23 May 1919 p9e
  15. Industrial Commission - Permanent and Casual Wharf-Labourers, Sydney Morning Herald 16 Oct 1936 p6e
  16. Theft of £3/7/-, Courier Mail 25 Nov 1933 p11c
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