Union Centenary

Labour Elders Pat Geraghty, John Coombs & Tas Bull with the WWF mural now on permanent display in the National Maritime Union

LABOUR ELDERS: Three veteran maritime union leaders -- Tas Bull, Pat Geraghty and John Coombs -- are back on the job, putting their heads together to organise the union centenary celebrations in September.

It is 100 years since the Waterside Workers' Federation, now the MUA, was formed in the then national capital Melbourne with Federal Member of Parliament and Secretary of the Sydney Wharf labourer' Union, (later PM) Billy Hughes its first president.

Also being commemorated is the eve of the Maritime Union's 10th anniversary, the 130th anniversary of the birth of the Seamen's Union of Australia and the Sydney Wharf Labourers' Union. It is also 100 and 103 years since the birth of the seamen and wharfie legendary leaders Elliot and Healy.

Celebrations will centre on a dinner at Sydney's Randwick Race course on Friday, September 20 with overseas guests from the joint miners and maritime workers two-day international conference in Newcastle guests of honour alongside former PM Bob Hawke.

The dinner will feature film clips, Aboriginal Australian song and dance and, of course, speeches.

Among the overseas guests is ITF General Secretary David Cockroft and maritime union leaders from the US, Africa, New Zealand and Japan - over 1000 in total including union officers and delegates from around the nation.

Full report next MWJ