Story: Strikes and labour disputes

The end of the 1890 strike

The end of the 1890 strike

The 1890 maritime strike ended in total defeat for New Zealand’s newly established unions. First the unions in Australia, where the dispute began, were forced back to work after large numbers of strike-breakers took over the strikers’ jobs. Soon afterwards the Maritime Council, a confederation of the main New Zealand unions in the strike, ordered a return to work. The council disintegrated after this defeat, and the unions took many years to recover their membership and former strength.

Using this item

National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past
Reference: North Otago Times, 11 November 1890, p. 2

Permission of the National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Mark Derby, 'Strikes and labour disputes - Early labour disputes', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/20472/the-end-of-the-1890-strike (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Mark Derby, published 11 Mar 2010, updated 1 Mar 2016