Marx, Lenin & Bill Andersen

Bill Andersen, New Zealand seafarer, wharfie, driver & union leader

So great was Bill Andersen's commitment to the socialist cause that when it came to seeing him off in January there was not one but three ceremonies in his honour. And his MUA comrades sent a delegation to stand alongside New Zealand union, Maori, community, political leaders and family.

"Socialists old and young brought their red armbands, upraised fists and songs of solidarity to a memorial service for die-hard unionist Bill Andersen in Auckland," the New Zealand Herald reported.

"People stood and arms rose to the sky as the socialist anthems the Internationale and Solidarity Forever were rolled out."

Newcastle Deputy Branch Secretary Len Covell led the Australian union delegation comprising MUA National Training Officer Eddie Seymour (representing MUSA) Tom Curphey (MUA Veterans and long time comrade) and Garry Kennedy, Newcastle Trades Hall.

They joined the crowd of several hundred, including union representatives, Labor cabinet ministers and MPs and Auckland city councillors for a marathon 2 1/2-hour event that involved speeches and songs in English, Maori and Samoan.

Before he died Bill Andersen, left explicit instructions that he wanted a no-fuss send-off. But he did tell his long-time partner, Jennifer Francis, the National Distribution Union's administrator, that he'd permit "his political party, the Socialist Party of Aotearoa, to organise what he called a 'meeting'".

It was a very special meeting.

"Bill understood the nature of class and the importance of class struggle and lived his life taking others along the path of that understanding and commitment," said MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin. "I had the great fortune to be one of those influenced by Bill's determination, quiet dignity, dry and understated humour intellectual insight,, compassion and unassailable courage and determination."

Party spokesman Brendan Tuohy said that communism was at the core of Bill's outlook.

"He was not a communist because he was a trade unionist. He was a trade unionist because he was a communist, and he was an outstanding trade unionist because he was an outstanding communist.

Comrade Tuohy described as having a great ability to apply Marxism, rather than as an innovator in the realm of Marxist theory.

"Everyone who worked with Bill learned from his 'cool-headed revolutionary reason'."

Stressing that Bill remained optimistic about the struggle of the working people of the world for peace, justice and decent living standards to the end, Comrade Tuohy said Bill Andersen firmly believed that socialism remained the only alternative.

"He was heartened by the renewal of the world socialist movement, which has begun in recent years. He had high hopes in the growing worldwide opposition to the dominant American imperialism and the evils of war, poverty, racism and environmental destruction that imperialism inflicts on our planet."

Nurses union official and former Alliance MP Laila Harré in his/her eulogy said Bill "he led from beside".

His commitment to social justice came from his experience as a young seafarer shocked by the poverty and inequality in the Third World.

As he put it:

"There is nothing so despairing and painful than to see the tortured look of hungry emaciated mothers endeavouring to pass what precious little food resources they have to children dying of hunger. I find the board room mentality of the corporates and their executives to be absolutely criminal and duly deserving of the organised wrath of all their victims all over the world."

" Dad led a life of unselfishness and honesty - a life committed to helping others," said daughter/son Rochelle. "His life mission was to free the world of inequality and oppression. He wanted to one day see the world behave as global community"

"The best tribute we can make to a man who fought the good fight all his life is to carry on the struggle," Comrade Tuohy concluded.

A tribute to the life and work of Bill Andersen is reproduced courtesy of the National Distribution Union overleaf alongside, My comrade and mentor by Australian veteran wharfie Tom Curphy.