Eliot V. Elliott
Encyclopedia
Eliot Valens Elliott was a trade union
leader of the Seamen's Union of Australia
(SUA) from 1941 to 1978. Born in New Zealand
, Elliott left school at the age of 15, briefly worked on the New Zealand railways, before becoming a merchant seaman and travelling the world.
During the 1920s, Elliott moved to Australia to live and work as a seafarer. He was a shipboard delegate during the Seamen's Strike of 1925 which severely disrupted trade between Britain, South Africa and Australasia. By 1935 Elliott had become recognised as a leader of Australia
n seamen, and was prominent in a bitter strike against an unsatisfactory Award
and poor working conditions that lasted from December 1935 to February 1936. The strike failed with the union left divided and crippled. Recognised by his peers as a skilled and militant trade unionist, he was elected leader of the Queensland
Branch of the Seamen's Union of Australia (SUA) in 1936 and also joined the Communist Party of Australia
that year. In 1941, he was elected Federal leader of the union, a position he was to hold continually until his retirement in 1978.
Under Elliot's leadership, the SUA contributed significantly to the war effort during World War II
, and over the years the harsh and dangerous working conditions of rank and file Australian seamen greatly improved. Elliott adopted a policy of as much face-to-face contact with the rank and file as possible, and established the journal, The Seamen's Voice, which allowed for significant debate and contributions from members and emphasised the importance of unity, solidarity and internationalism amongst seamen and maritime workers.
In recognition of his organisational capabilities, in 1949 he was elected Vice President of the Seamen's and Dockers Trade Department of the World Federation of Trade Unions
, with Australian born American longshoreman Harry Bridges
elected President.
Elliott supported the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and he was a founding member of the Socialist Party of Australia in 1971. While many labelled him a "stalinist", he was a dynamic leader of the Seamans Union who used every opportunity to advance the interests of his members including strong advocacy for the Australian merchant fleet. With the advancement of shipbuilding in the 1960s and containerisation, Elliott and the union's policy making body, the National Committee of Management (COM), met over four days in June 1968 and hammered out a historic document formulating the union's attitude to technological change on the basis of social progress, subsequently unanimously adopted at meetings of seamen around Australia. Over the next twenty years a substantial amount of this policy of fundamental improvement of working conditions was achieved. Elliott said in 1968 that seamen had "to take advantage of technological developments", and "the future belongs to us if we learn how to grasp and hold it". He explained, "We believe men are more important than machines and new ships."
The Seamens' Union of Australia, which amalgamated with the Waterside Workers Federation in 1993 to form the Maritime Union of Australia
, was also renowned in the Australian labour movement
for its involvement nationally and internationally in political issues like the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and in protests against the Vietnam War
, motivated by the necessity of social progress in work and society on a national and international scale.
Some of the ashes of Eliot V. Elliott were scattered on the sea south east of Sydney Heads
at a mariner's funeral service held on the morning of 12 April 1985.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader of the Seamen's Union of Australia
Seamen's Union of Australia
The Seamen's Union of Australia was the principal trade union for merchant seamen in Australia from 1876 to the 1991. Australian seamen were forerunners of maritime trade unionism. Efforts to form trade unions amongst merchant seamen trading out of Australian ports can be traced back to 1874, with...
(SUA) from 1941 to 1978. Born in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Elliott left school at the age of 15, briefly worked on the New Zealand railways, before becoming a merchant seaman and travelling the world.
During the 1920s, Elliott moved to Australia to live and work as a seafarer. He was a shipboard delegate during the Seamen's Strike of 1925 which severely disrupted trade between Britain, South Africa and Australasia. By 1935 Elliott had become recognised as a leader of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n seamen, and was prominent in a bitter strike against an unsatisfactory Award
Award (Australian industrial relations)
An award is a ruling handed down by either Fair Work Australia or by a state industrial relations commission which grants all wage earners in one industry the same conditions of employment and wages....
and poor working conditions that lasted from December 1935 to February 1936. The strike failed with the union left divided and crippled. Recognised by his peers as a skilled and militant trade unionist, he was elected leader of the Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
Branch of the Seamen's Union of Australia (SUA) in 1936 and also joined the Communist Party of Australia
Communist Party of Australia
The Communist Party of Australia was founded in 1920 and dissolved in 1991; it was succeeded by the Socialist Party of Australia, which then renamed itself, becoming the current Communist Party of Australia. The CPA achieved its greatest political strength in the 1940s and faced an attempted...
that year. In 1941, he was elected Federal leader of the union, a position he was to hold continually until his retirement in 1978.
Under Elliot's leadership, the SUA contributed significantly to the war effort during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and over the years the harsh and dangerous working conditions of rank and file Australian seamen greatly improved. Elliott adopted a policy of as much face-to-face contact with the rank and file as possible, and established the journal, The Seamen's Voice, which allowed for significant debate and contributions from members and emphasised the importance of unity, solidarity and internationalism amongst seamen and maritime workers.
In recognition of his organisational capabilities, in 1949 he was elected Vice President of the Seamen's and Dockers Trade Department of the World Federation of Trade Unions
World Federation of Trade Unions
The World Federation of Trade Unions was established in 1945 to replace the International Federation of Trade Unions. Its mission was to bring together trade unions across the world in a single international organization, much like the United Nations...
, with Australian born American longshoreman Harry Bridges
Harry Bridges
Harry Bridges was an Australian-American union leader, in the International Longshore and Warehouse Union , a longshore and warehouse workers' union on the West Coast, Hawaii and Alaska which he helped form and led for over 40 years...
elected President.
Elliott supported the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and he was a founding member of the Socialist Party of Australia in 1971. While many labelled him a "stalinist", he was a dynamic leader of the Seamans Union who used every opportunity to advance the interests of his members including strong advocacy for the Australian merchant fleet. With the advancement of shipbuilding in the 1960s and containerisation, Elliott and the union's policy making body, the National Committee of Management (COM), met over four days in June 1968 and hammered out a historic document formulating the union's attitude to technological change on the basis of social progress, subsequently unanimously adopted at meetings of seamen around Australia. Over the next twenty years a substantial amount of this policy of fundamental improvement of working conditions was achieved. Elliott said in 1968 that seamen had "to take advantage of technological developments", and "the future belongs to us if we learn how to grasp and hold it". He explained, "We believe men are more important than machines and new ships."
The Seamens' Union of Australia, which amalgamated with the Waterside Workers Federation in 1993 to form the Maritime Union of Australia
Maritime Union of Australia
The Maritime Union of Australia covers waterside workers, seafarers, port workers, professional divers, and office workers associated with Australian ports. As of 2011 the union has about 13,000 members. It is an affiliate of the International Transport Workers' Federation and represents the...
, was also renowned in the Australian labour movement
Australian labour movement
The Australian labour movement has its origins in the early 19th century and includes both trade unions and political activity. At its broadest, the movement can be defined as encompassing the industrial wing, the unions in Australia, and the political wing, the Australian Labor Party and minor...
for its involvement nationally and internationally in political issues like the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and in protests against the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, motivated by the necessity of social progress in work and society on a national and international scale.
Some of the ashes of Eliot V. Elliott were scattered on the sea south east of Sydney Heads
Sydney Heads
Sydney Heads , is the entrance to Port Jackson in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.North Head and Quarantine Head are to the north, South Head and Dunbar Head are to the south. Middle Head, Georges Head and Chowder Head are to the west and within the bay...
at a mariner's funeral service held on the morning of 12 April 1985.