From the Archives,1983:Unionists stop to celebrate centenary

The Painters and Dockers held a re-enactment of the first unfurling of their banner,during an adjournment to the Royal Commission into the union’s activities.

First published inThe Sydney Morning Herald on May 26,1983

As the band played Waltzing Matilda and a small group of plain-clothed Federal Police mingled with the crowd,about 600 painters and dockers celebrated their union’s centenary in Sydney yesterday.

Painters and Dockers celebrate their centenary at Balmain.

Painters and Dockers celebrate their centenary at Balmain.Paul Matthews

Painters and dockers from throughout Sydney held a half-day strike yesterday to allow them to gather on “Liberty Hill” (the corner of Montague and Llewellyn streets,Balmain),for a re-enactment of the first unfurling of the union’s banner in 1889,six years after its formation.

On Tuesday. Mr Frank Costigan,QC,agreed to an adjournment of the Royal Commission hearings into the union’s activities to allow some of its Victorian members to fly to Sydney for the celebrations.

The Royal Commission and the “notoriety” of the union were criticised by its federal secretary. Mr Terry Gordon,in a speech before the unveiling of the union’s restored banner.

He decried the “erroneous picture built up over the years by the press and that arch-enemy of the union movement,Mr Fraser.”

“We are not a pack of ratbags,murderers and thugs but a stable union who have done a lot for working people.” he said.

Bob Dix,(right),Victorian Secretary on the march.

Bob Dix,(right),Victorian Secretary on the march.Paul Matthews

“All they the Liberal Party have unearthed is a “whole lot of skulduggery in their own ranks.”

The secretary of the Labor Council of NSW. Mr Barrie Unsworth,praised the union for its actions over the years in providing some stability to the shrinking waterfront industries.

“The Federated Ship Painters’ and Dockers’ Union is not large in numbers but your numbers do not belie your strength.” he said. He extended to the union the fraternal greetings of the NSW labour movement.

After the unveiling ceremony the crowd marched to the union’s headquarters in Mort Street,gathering supporters as it went.

Supporters and younger members of the union came from the nearby Town Hall hotel and a cockatoo on the footpath screamed as a jazz hand led the parade with a medley of traditional Australian folk songs

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