Not Wanted on Voyage

19 un-numbered pages.

With an introduction by Hodgins, Charlie and Prescott, John (later Labour MP for Hull East).

Card cover somewhat dusty and age-toned. Internally clean with a slight printing smudge on 2 facing pages.

On 16 May 1966, the National Union of Seamen (NUS) launched its first national strike since 1911. The strike aimed to secure higher wages and to reduce the working week from 56 to 40 hours. It was widely supported and organised by rank-and-file union members causing considerable disruption to UK shipping. The political importance of the strike was considerable: the disruption of trade had an adverse effect on the United Kingdom's (already precarious) balance of payments, provoked a run on the pound and threatened to undermine the government's attempts to keep wage increases below 3.5%.

The then Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, was strongly critical of the strike, publicly alleging that it had been taken over by Communists to bring down his administration. In his much 'celebrated' remark about the strike, he claimed – on advice from the British Secret Service – that it was being masterminded by a "tightly knit group of politically motivated men". It is worth noting that the British establishment, including elements in the Secret Service, looked upon the Wilson Government as an aberration and encouraging Wilson to make highly provocative claims almost certainly served multiple purposes. The CPGB denied Wilson's claims.

On 23 May, a week after the outbreak of the strike, the Government declared a state of emergency, with emergency powers allowing the Government to cap food prices, allow the Royal Navy to take control and clear the ports, and lift restrictions on driving vehicles to allow for the free movement of goods. In the end however the emergency powers were not used.

A Court of Inquiry under Lord Pearson was appointed by the Government on 26 May, an unprecedented step whilst a strike was running. The Inquiry's interim report of 8 June, whilst strongly criticized the NUS's behaviour, recommended a forty-hour week by 1967 and thirty-nine days leave rather than pay increases. The interim report was rejected outright by the NUS, particularly amongst the rank and file.

The Hull seamen's reasoned rejection of the Pearson report – "Not Wanted on Voyage" – was and remains the most celebrated example of the viewpoint of the strikers. Issued in the name of the leaders of the NUS Hull Dispute Committee, the pamphlet was drafted with considerable assistance from Tony Topham of Hull University's Extra-Mural Department.

With the strike continuing after rejection of the Pearson report, the Shipowners' Federation came up with an improved offer of forty-eight days annual leave with a forty-hour week. The NUS Executive voted to accept the new proposals made by the shipowners, the full-time officials of the union overwhelmingly voting in favour of acceptance against the opposition of many rank-and-file union representatives and members who wanted to continue the strike. The strike was thus formally ended on 1 July after forty-seven days.

The phrase "not wanted on voyage" refers to the phrase used on the destination tags for some of a ship passengers' baggage; i.e., for items that were to be stored in the ship's hold, rather than kept available in the passenger's cabin.

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