THE MARITIME WORKER Wellington Branch Wellington Branch Newsletter Vol: 3 November (2019)
Dave Morgan (RIP) 1940-2019
Mick Williams President Wellington Branch Dave Morgan, a great leader of the former Seaman and Seafarers Union, a comrade who will be sadly missed. The Wellington MUNZ branch sends sincere condolences to Maggie and family. Dave was a genuine socialist who fought for a fairer society free from poverty, racism and war. He was an inspiration to all generations of trade unionists. One of the outstanding trade union leaders of his generation in New Zealand, alongside Bill Martin (Pincher) and Bill Andersen. Dave was a big man with a commanding presence and sincerity to match. He had a sharp, agile mind. Dave fought hard for his union both nationally and internationally through difficult times. Dave was a good orator and an intelligent man who represented all that is good in the shipping industry. Dave dedicated a lifetime of commitment to Seafarers and social justice. I worked with Dave for many years as the Wellington/National Secretary and we had a great working relationship for most of this time. We fought together on many fronts during challenging times, always strategising through the struggle. One of Daveâs most proud achievements was keeping the USS Truxton out of Wellington Port. Dave represented a refusal by unionists to berth the American warship or service it while it lay at anchor for six days. Some of the other fights we fought include, the campaign against Vietnam war, the UK minersâ strike, the Liverpool dockers lockout, support for MUA Patrick dispute, overseas trade campaign and jobs for NZ Seafarers, open coast fight against the National Government to open coast to foreign flag ships, SCONZY save national line cabotage road show with street theatre, the war of â94â Interislander with the new owner American company Wisconsin,
Amalgamation - the fight for one union on waterfront, South Africa apartheid, the unjustified Iraq war, Straight Shipping fight for union coverage and the Employment Contracts Act anti-union legislation alongside the Golden Bay lockout. These attitudes and action filled campaigns sprang from his understanding of the world divided into two social classes, capital and labour. Dave was able to see that the hostility and struggle between the two, where capital was for most of the time the stronger party, played out in many different ways. His support for the liberation struggles of Cuba, Chile, Palestine, South Africa and Venezuela made him an internationalist. Dave was a good negotiator; he always stood his ground with ship owners and politicians alike. The best I have ever witnessed. The bosses knew where they stood with him and he only ever had to say things once. Dave was the founding president of the Trade Union Federation in 1993, the more hard-line. This federation opposed the Employment Contracts Act with more vigour than the CTU did, but united with the larger organisation three years later after being persuaded that a change of leadership had made it more robust campaigning having one centre. Before retiring Dave was contributing towards Dave Grantâs book âJagged Seasâ sharing our proud union history. In the words of Terry Ryan, âYou have paid your dues and will take your place in history.â Rest in Peace Dave. Gone but not forgotten.
The Wellington Maritime Worker Published Regularly