1951 Waterfront Lockout
In February 1951, Watersiders throughout New Zealand were locked out by employers for refusing to work overtime. The government imposed harsh emergency regulations and deregistered the union.
Troops and strike-breakers were used to work the wharves and the government actively promoted the formation of new, compliant unions in every port. The Federation of Labour, supported by the majority of unions, did not back the Watersiders. The Watersiders held out for 22 weeks, loyally supported by a minority of other unions, before conceding defeat.
At the start of the dispute the National government cabinet met with US politician JF Dulles. Following that meeting the emergency regulations were issued and the US Central Intelligence Agency’s airline commenced operations in New Zealand to shift dispute bound cargo between the North and South Island. This intervention arose as part of the “cold war” – New Zealand was aligned with the USA in the Korean war against the spread of socialism.
The emergency regulations made published support for the Watersiders Union illegal giving the police power to seize publishing equipment and leaflets. For example, they made a number of failed raids to try to get Chip Bailey’s typewriter, now on display, which he hid behind a false wall in his pantry.
The regulations forbade giving food, even to the children of Watersiders Union members. In some schools, this saw the children at lunchtime separated into watersiders’ children, and the rest, so that watersiders children would not be given any food by other children. Sound clips with accompanying photos about this, and other effects of the regulations and the struggle, can be viewed on this website.