workingclasshistory:

On this day, 13 February 1951, Aotearoa/New Zealand’s biggest ever industrial dispute began when dock workers started an overtime ban demanding the same 15% pay increase that all industrial workers had just been awarded. Waterside workers had only been offered a 9% pay increase, by the mostly British-owned shipping companies. The employers responded by locking out the workers, supported by the government who introduced emergency laws, brought in the army and navy to work as scabs and deregistered the Waterside Workers’ Union. The national umbrella union group, the Federation of Labour, supported the government, and the opposition Labour Party also failed to support the Waterside workers. Despite all the forces ranged against them, up to 20,000 other workers took solidarity strike action in support of the dockers, and thousands more refused to handle scab goods. But after 151 days, the workers were forced to concede defeat. In the wake of the dispute, many militants were blacklisted and prevented from working on the docks for years afterwards.
*
For this and hundreds of other stories, get our new book, Working Class History: Everyday Acts of Resistance & Rebellion. Available here (or on our link in bio on Instagram): https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/products/working-class-history-everyday-acts-resistance-rebellion-book https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1651070261744784/?type=3