1951 waterfront lockout commemorated in Lyttelton
A weekend of events was held in Lyttelton on 12-14 November 2021, marking the 70th anniversary of the 1951 Waterfront Lockout.
Read MoreMaritime Union of New Zealand
Representing New Zealand maritime workers since 2002
1951 lockout
65th anniversary of the 1951 waterfront lockout
On 13 February 1951, New Zealand’s most significant industrial dispute began. For 151 days the most advanced sections of the New Zealand working class led by the watersiders fought a tough battle against employers and the State. The following documentary from 2001 is essential viewing of this landmark in New Zealand working class history.
Read More1951 lockout documentary (part 1)
In 1951, New Zealand temporarily became a police state. Civil liberties were curtailed, freedom of speech denied, and the Government used force against its own citizens. This film tells the story of the infamous lockout of waterside workers and the nationwide strike which followed.
Read MoreMaritime Union welcomes release of 1951 lockout papers
The Maritime Union of New Zealand has welcomed the release of secret SIS papers on the 1951 waterfront lockout to Archives New Zealand.
Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the 1951 waterfront lockout was the most significant industrial event in living memory in New Zealand.
He says the Maritime Union still counts veterans of the 1951 dispute amongst its retired members.
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