In Memoriam

Fred Moore: Coal miner and comrade

Illawarra union champion Fred Moore, who started work as a coal miner at age 14 and never missed a May Day march after World War 2, died on January 21 at the age of 99. He passed away peacefully at home in Dapto with family by his side.

Fred’s friends and comrades learned of his passing with great sadness, said MUA Southern NSW Branch Secretary Mick Cross.

“Fred was front and centre when this country demanded strong leadership amongst the working class to stay the course through many progressive struggles, both industrially and socially,” Cross said. “And lead he did, with bone-dry wit, respect for all and the best interests of his comrades always the priority. Fred will be sorely missed and never, ever forgotten.”

Fred was born in Cobar, started work in the mines in Western NSW at the age of 14, and moved to Dapto in 1952 with his wife, May, and three children. He worked in Nebo Colliery and later Australian Iron & Steel mine.

In a joint media release, the South Coast Labour Council and the Mining & Energy Union called Fred the South Coast greatest ever unionist.

“The working class, social justice and International solidarity movements have lost a giant but gained so much from his leadership, comradeship, courage and principle,” the statement read. “He taught us the power of unity and laid the foundations of Uniontown.

Unswerving in his resoluteness and conviction he famously declared: “‘When the workers take to the streets – the streets belong to the workers’.”

“When Fred spoke, comrades listened. Decency, unity, respect and justice were not just ends for Fred; they were his means as well. From the southern coalfields, he emerged as leader but was not content with increasing the pay, conditions and safety of miners underground: he led the struggle above ground as well for peace and socialism and an end to racism and exploitation in all its forms. The name Fred Moore became synonymous with solidarity with workers and their communities here and abroad.”

Together with emerging first nations leaders, Fred was the “driving force” in establishing the South Coast Aboriginal Advancement League in 1961, the statement said. “It is now regarded as an iconic and formidable actionbased movement which predated the 1967 referendum and Wave Hill walk off and was an integral supporter of both. Fred was one of very few non-indigenous people to have been made an honorary elder of the Aboriginal community in the region.”

“The May Day movement, the annual marches, toasts and activities were Fred’s favourite annual events as he took pride in marching at

the head of both the Wollongong and Sydney parades and as a life member of both committees.

“Fred leaves us a legacy of struggle, solidarity and workingclass leadership that will drive and inspire workers, activists and champions for justice for many generations to come.”

Bobbie McGuffie: Gas Buggy Veteran

Bobbie McGuffie passed away on August 3, 2021 at the age of 61.

I first met Bob at MUA training school at St Georges Basin NSW in 2004 during the Teekay EBA negotiations. I had heard a lot about Bob from his time on the gas buggies out of Karratha – he was on the Northwest Sanderling for about 20 years.

The years passed and Bob joined the Transocean DD1 as bosun in late February 2018. Just prior to that we caught up at the crew induction in Perth. As bosun on our swing, it didn’t take Bobby long before he had the company and the officer sorted out and our MUA crew had our own little place in proceedings.

In Mauritius when we were joining the DD1, a blue developed, as they do with unscrupulous ship owners and the discussion quickly got a bit too hot. Bob appeared at just the right moment, calmed the situation

and we achieved the outcome we sought. Bob’s experience was the deciding factor. There were plenty more disputes ahead and Bob knew just what to do every time.

Once on board I worked with Bob, one on one, for 12 hours a day, four weeks about for several months. During that time we talked a lot about life. Bob had seen a lot and done a lot during his time. From growing up in Wollongong and sailing out of Kembla and his adventures overseas, Bob had led a life that the average Joe would struggle to imagine.

Bobbie McGuffie, you will be well remembered and sadly missed.

Bill Jackson

Richard Trumka: A great brother and comrade

Richard Louis Trumka, who died on August 5, 2021 at the age of 72, was president of the USA United Mine Workers from 1982 to 1995, and then secretary-general of the AFL-CIO from 1995 to 2009. He was elected president of the AFL–CIO in 2009 and served in that position until his death.

An inspiring and courageous leader, Ritchie was a loyal friend and tireless activist and campaigner for working women and men and their needs and rights everywhere. A person from the people and for the people and a true internationalist.

Paddy Crumlin MUA National Secretary ITF President

Ken Rowsthorne: Undaunted by any challenge

Ken Rowsthorne, who worked on the waterfront from 1966 to 1994, passed away in August, 2021, aged 91.

Ken ended his maritime career at vigilance officer for the Sydney waterfront, after serving as WWF delegate. In an interview following his retirement he said “My education was on the waterfront. I became a better person because I was on the waterfront. And the men I mixed with made me a better person.”

Ken was a committed socialist and a hard-working delegate, activist and trade union official over his whole working life. He brought enthusiasm and unquenchable optimism to everything he did and was undaunted by any political or industrial challenge regardless of the circumstances.

This translated into enormous popularity and a charisma that made him always a pleasure to be with. For a large man he was quick off the mark and would cover an enormous amount of territory in his day-to-day union work. He was always slightly breathless and dishevelled from the many tasks he was committed to on a daily basis, but never too busy not to join in a chat and an insight into the nature of the issues we were always challenged with on the job. He never failed to ask after the family, reflecting his own deep values.

He was also quick with a witticism and a joke and overlaid his wonderful trade union commitment and belief with a sense of humour and timing that set him apart even on the waterfront well known for its humour.

Over many years he was a great friend and comrade to me as a young activist and subsequently union official and his humorous asides were always imbedded with a point of insight and wisdom. He was indeed dearly loved and respected

Ken was not always predictable on what side of a division of opinions he might land but his view always came with weight and respect. He influenced political and industrial decisions at a particularly volatile and confronting period for waterside and maritime workers because of that independence and experience.

Ken was always a pleasure to spend company with, a man of great heart and humour, a true socialist humble and always respectful of others and in turn greatly respected by all. He was a true champion of the long, colourful and proud traditions of our waterfront. He will be greatly missed.

Paddy Crumlin MUA National Secretary ITF President

Brenton Baker: Patrick veteran

Port Adelaide wharfie Brenton Baker, better known as Bakes, started his career as a casual wharfie with Patrick in 1996.

He travelled as an unpaid casual over to the Webb Dock peaceful assembly on a bus full of South Australian comrades. That began his early commitment to mateship and the union. After going through the struggle with Patricks in 1998, he transferred to the Adelaide Container Terminal at Outer Harbour in 1999.

There he was respected by his workmates for his commitment to the union and attitude towards safety on the job.

On 6 March 2021, Bakes, aged 51, lost his struggle with numerous illness that were trying to beat him from an early age.

He will be sadly missed by all his South Australian comrades.

Roy McNair: The Shark

Roy (the Shark) McNair was a great unionist and human being.

I first met Roy 60 years ago at one of Her Majesty’s finest finishing schools.

My first memory of Roy was being in a shower with 10 others in a luxury resort. Roy was in the shower next to me. He had a big tattoo on his stomach of a shark. I nicknamed him The Shark, a name he carried for the rest of his life.

Roy was a life member of the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers. Along with many of his fellow members he joined the MUA on the demise of the P&Ds.

The Shark worked for P&O when that company started operations at Appleton Dock in Melbourne in the mid-90s.

He always showed a willingness to help new and younger members, showing them the right and safe way to do things. Whenever there was a fundraiser to help someone down on this luck, he was always there or made a pledge towards it.

One of his interests was in pacers; he had a fair bit of luck with one named after him called Moonembelle McNair.n He always wore bicycle clips on his overalls and when asked why he would reply ‘to stop the rats climbing up your legs’.

Shark was not only a mate, he was family. We drank together, laughed together and a couple of times cried together. I will miss Roy and never forget his favourite saying – ‘Never forget anything you remember.’

Bob Fiddler Dick Ryan Leo McDonald

John Coombs: Always remembered

John Coombs, former national secretary will always be remembered in Australian trade union history as the leader of the MUA during the Patrick dispute of 1998.

Thanks largely to John’s work, the Patrick dispute will never be forgotten. It was recognised as a great victory for unions around the world and a greater victory for the Australian trade union movement.

I along with the Victorian branch officials worked very closely with John during the dispute that ran for 101 days starting at Webb Dock on January 21, 1998.

It was at Webb Dock that members were first locked out and replaced by a non-union workforce made up of former army personal as well as security officers with attack dogs. It was a great victory for John and the MUA when the members at Webb

dock returned to work on May 9, 1998.

A further great victory for John, the MUA and the Australian trade movement was Australia’s worst Prime Minister John Howard losing his safe Liberal seat when Labor was returned to government. That really showed the doubters the MUA is here to stay.

John Higgins Former National Presiding Officer MUA

Phillip Lovelee: Sydney Wharfie

Phillip Lovelee (Big Philou) passed away in October. Phil was a wharfie who worked for Conaust in Port Jackson for many years and later at Port Botany. He was a great supporter of the MUA and WWF, well liked and much respected by his workmates and friends.

Phil retired early, due to ill health and had been unwell for many years. He is sadly missed.

Roger Williams: Caring for seafarers

Roger Williams, a former chairperson of the Sydney ITF Seafarers’ Club (also known as the Boomerang Club) for many years, passed away in March. Roger had a long and close association with the late Tas Bull and they forged a successful partnership to ensure the wellbeing of visiting seafarers.

Many seafarers enjoyed the services of the Seafarers’ Club that provided a number of important social benefits and interactions; counselling, contacting loved ones at home, finding spiritual comfort, changing money, accessing the club’s shop, or simply having a good night out and a break from the rigours of shipboard life. Roger oversaw this activity for approximately 20 years.

As Chair of the Tas Bull Seafarers’ Foundation, (the successor organisation), I have passed our condolences to Roger’s long-time partner, Marie-Luce Georges who is also our company secretary.

Robert Coombs

COVID’s toll on US wharfies

Rudy Moreno, Local 13 longshore worker, San Pedro, Los Angelos, USA, is one of at least 12 International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) members killed by COVID19.

“More ILWU members have died from COVID-19 than were lost during Bloody Thursday and the 1934 strike,” said ILWU International President Willie Adams. “We honor their memory and they will live with us forever.”

A total of 1,068 members had reported testing positive for COVID-19 by January, according the ILWU magazine The Dispatcher. It published a memorial page with portraits of 10 members killed by the virus, including brother Moreno.

Despite these numbers, ILWU members have been loading and unloading cargo nonstop since February 2020, when cruise ships first arrived in West Coast ports with infected passengers. Adams said the union acted

early to negotiate for protective equipment and procedures with employers well before state and federal legislators took action.

In doing so, the union “demonstrated that workers united in a labour union have the power to not only make their own worksites safer than they would be otherwise, but also to strengthen the economy and the response to the crisis by keeping the ports open and operating for the greater good,” he said.

Despite precautions, contact between workers is unavoidable. Local 94 President Danny Miranda cited shuttle buses between terminals, working together in the hold of a ship, lashing side-by-side, and pulling slings while discharging breakbulk cargo as some of the many ways that contact occurs.

Adams said the officers and leaders at every local have since worked through impossible obstacles to secure vaccines for members. •