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Painters and Dockers Union demand Australian built, Australian owned, Australian manned ships

Date1900-1993

Object number00008556

NameBanner

MediumPaint, canvas

DimensionsOverall: 2225 x 1587 x 17 mm

ClassificationsVisual communication

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union of Australia

Terms

DescriptionA Painters and Dockers Union banner reading 'Painters & Dockers Union Demand Australian Built Australian Owned Australian Manned Ships'.HistoryUnions usually had at least a dozen of these kinds of banners at the office that were painted in a day or so by a union member and can be over painted completely or partially, to reflect the issue of the day. Being light they could be easily transported to a demonstration and were not seen as being so precious that they have to be carefully looked after. Banner styles and topics changed over the years. The earlier banners depicted the issues the union had won or proudly paraded the work of the members. The later banners show that the union was more interested in promoting a short and topical slogan. Originally, the Union was called the Balmain Laborers' Union (first recorded meeting 31 January 1900). It later became the Painters' and Dockers' Union of Port Jackson (30 August 1900) and eventually the Federated Painters and Dockers Union (1909). The Union had strong connections with Balmain as most of the early members worked as casual or unskilled labourers at Morts Dock and Engineering Workshops. This Union is an example of one of the new large militant unions that started in the 1880s and took their membership not from the skilled but the unskilled. Commonwealth regulations that came into force in 1990 forced the union to fold. The Union Hall was located next to the offices in Mort Street Balmain but were sold and their equipment dispersed. This banner is part of a collection of objects the Union donated to the Australian National Maritime Museum. SignificanceThe Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union (FSPDU) was a strong Australian trade union which existed between 1900 and 1993 and represented members of the shipbuilding industry.