The second Federation of LabourThe rise of the Labour Party in 1935 saw a radical changes and a new start to the organisation of the Fedration of Labour (FoL). The Federation of Labour was an organisation which represented unions at workplaces in New Zealand. Previously, the the unions that joined in the Fedration of Labour was heavily involved in the 1912 Waihi Gold Mine Strike and 1913 Waterfront Strike. In previous strikes, the constuiting unions of the FoL, were inspired by the European syndicalism and American 'Wobblies' and was responsible for the promotion and spread of socialist ideas in the trade unions and union movements. After these industrial actions, the FoL saw a decline in strength of the union movments and "de-registeration" as the unionists turned away from direct industrial actions and as the number of the union membership declined significantly.
The FoL was "re-organised" by Peter Fraser, a former leader of the FoL and a deputy Prime Minister in 1935, who aimed to overcome the differences and to achieve unity in smaller, fragmented unions across the nation. The second Federation of Labour was a new organisation which represented the unions across the nations established to provide "a means of consultation and collaboration among the various trade unions of New Zealand." (Te Ara)From 14 to 19 April 1937, delegates from 212 industrial organisations, representing 170,800 union workers assembled in Wellington for Industrial Unity Conference at the request of the Labour Government. This conference, opened by the Acting Prime Minister Fraser, was an important event to the initiation of the newly formed Fedration of Labour. Many influental unions like the New Zealand Workers' Union, the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union, and the Union of Railwaymen represented in this conferenece. The Federation of Labour held annual conferences in Wellington and were attended by the the delegates representing the unions. The national council of fedration and the national executives was also organised to decide important policy matters. The FoL worked closely with the successive governments and played a significant role in a government-backed system for setting wages for specific industries at national level. This system sought to improve the working relations from the 1940's until the 1960s, until the FoL's gradual decline in strength. The Federation of Labour worked closely with the Labour Party in the 1930's until the late 1940's, and then with the National Government during the 1951 Waterfront Strike. With the introduction of the Labour's compulsary unionism, and consequently, the FoL Union membership tripled with total union membership of 233,000 and 500 unions. Unions were formed in the industries where no unions had previously existed, and this included the formation of unions that represented the farm workers, clerical workers and shop assistants. The close relationship between the Labour and the FoL showed that they had same social objective, also it reflected the purpose of "re-organisation" of FoL whose intention was to integrate the "different sections of the trades union movement" to pursue "Labour's common aims." |
The close relationship between the FoL and the Labour had been possible because of the close relationship between Peter Fraser, who became Prime Minister in 1940, and F. P. Walsh, a dominant
figure in the FoL. Under these two important figures, the FoL encouraged the introduction of the two-weeks holiday pay for engineering workers at Lower Hutt at Christmas. Althought the Government had opposed the campaign, but it had later introduced the first legislation guaranteering the holiday leave for all workers. In the late 1940's and early 1950's, the Wellington Waterside Worker's Union and other left-wing millitant unions left the Federation of Labour and formed the Trade Union Congress. From the FoL and the Labour's perspective, the communist-influenced members of the FoL such as the carpenters, drivers and tramswaymen was a growing threat to the Labour Party-Federation of Labour alliance, and the Walsh and the Fraser responded with the harsh and brutal actions to "discriminate" against these groups. The newly-formed Trade Union Congress refused to work overtime, and allegedly "tired of" the Labour's government and policies and in the deteoriated the living and workind conditions during and after the Second World War had led this group to industrial actions at wharves. While the Naitonal Party was elected into Government through the 1951 General Strike, and faced the challenge of facing the militant unionism, the FoL strengthened relationships with the National Government. Both the Ntional and the FoL supported the compulsary unionism. Compulary unionism had allowed the Government a full control over unions under the Fedration of Labour. In the 1949 General Elections poster propagandizing for the National Party, the poster shows that the National Government's support for the FoL, and its policy which encouraged the unionists to remain within the influence of the FoL. |
Finton PatrickWalsh (1894 - 1963)
Finton Patrick Walsh was born Patrick Tuohy, in Poverty Bay. He worked as a seaman aboard British and American ships in 1915 and 1916, and he returned to New Zealand in 1920. He changed his name to Walsh, allegedly avoid victimization in the United States. He was involved in syndicalist organisation, Industrial Workers of the World, Butte, Montana.
He joined the Fedrated Seamen's Union in 1920 and was a founding member of the Communist Party of New Zealand the following year. However by 1940's, Walsh had reversed his belief and become a strong opponent of communism.
From the 1930's Walsh became one of the influential, powerful figures in New Zealand and in the trade union movement. Walsh formed a strong alliance to Peter Fraser and worked together in many occasions. Walsh overshadowed the FoL President Alex Crockery, and took over the leadership role in 1953.Fintan Patrick Walsh is remembered for his support of the government, and the arbitration system and compulsary unionism during the 1951 Waterfront Dispute, and his impressive and often fiery oratory.
He joined the Fedrated Seamen's Union in 1920 and was a founding member of the Communist Party of New Zealand the following year. However by 1940's, Walsh had reversed his belief and become a strong opponent of communism.
From the 1930's Walsh became one of the influential, powerful figures in New Zealand and in the trade union movement. Walsh formed a strong alliance to Peter Fraser and worked together in many occasions. Walsh overshadowed the FoL President Alex Crockery, and took over the leadership role in 1953.Fintan Patrick Walsh is remembered for his support of the government, and the arbitration system and compulsary unionism during the 1951 Waterfront Dispute, and his impressive and often fiery oratory.