The 1951 dispute is probably the most important union struggle in our history — it is certainly the most talked about. Although a General Strike was not called, after last week, 1951 came the closest thing to a General Strike that this country has seen. As in 1913, this dispute shows clearly that the role of Government and its state machinery is firmly on the side of the employing classes. However, in 1951 the Government had an unexpected accomplice — a perfidious Federation of Labour.

At the 1950 April Conference of the FoL, the Watersiders' Union (lead by Toby Hill and Jock Barnes) presented a letter accusing the FoL leaders of working with the Labour Government, against the interests of union members.

The whole affair culminated with an ultimatum from the majority of delegates: that if the letter was not withdrawn the Waterside Workers would be expelled from the FoL by May 31.

However the Watersiders did not wait. They walked out of the FoL, taking with them an estimated 75,000 watersiders and other union members (fully one third of the FoL's total membership). Between them they formed the New Zealand Trade Union Congress (TUC). Thus the TUC was the more militant, left wing section of the Trade Union movement, which had split away from the moderates.