People Australia

Vivian Stanley Charles (Paddy) Williams (1901-1970) seaman, waterside worker, trade union official and political activist

Birth: 17 February 1901 at Hobart, Tasmania, son of native-born parents Charles William junior (1871-1938), asphalter, and Catherine (Kate), née Bird (1874-1963). Marriage: 25 March 1925 at Hobart to Tasmanian-born Laura (‘Mabel’) Goodman (1896-1986). They had one daughter. Death: 26 March 1970 at Hobart. Religion: Anglican. 

• Became a deckboy at the age of 14. Seaman on several Australian coastal ships and joined the Seamens’ Union of Australia.
• Later turned to fishing for a livelihood before joining the Hobart branch of the Waterside Workers’ Federation (WWF) in 1938. Joined the Australian Labor Party in 1938.
• President of the Hobart branch of the WWF in 1952 and 1956 and vice-president from 1960 to 1964. Cooperated with the Tasmanian parliamentary Labor Party to secure long-service leave for casual employees on the waterfront. Branch delegate to the Tasmanian Trades Hall Council (THC) and Tasmanian section of the ALP. Became a life member of the Tasmanian THC and Tasmanian section of the ALP in 1969.
• Member, WWF Federal Council 1953-1957. Delegate to Australian Council of Trades Unions Congress 1955 and 1957. Retired due to ill-health in 1969.
• Vice-president Tasmanian ALP in 1955-1959; president in 1959-1963. Founding member of Industrial branch and South Hobart branch 1960; member ALP Federal Executive 1962-1967; junior vice-president from 1964; Member of ALP delegation to Malaysia in mid-1960s.
• Major opponent of attempt by Industrial Groups and the Democratic Labor Party to divert union funds from the ALP in what became known as the ‘Hursey Case’. He was found guilty of conspiracy by Tasmanian courts, but was acquitted after the High Court ruled that a duly constituted meeting of members of a union were bound to accept majority decisions of the meeting.
• Worked hard towards the introduction of long-service leave for waterside workers which assisted with its introduction by the Tasmanian Labor Government in 1961.
• With his wife, he was a founding member of the Textile Workers’ Union in Tasmania.
• President, Hobart Branch Merchant Navy Association from 1964 to 1968. Member of the Social Services Committee from 1964. Member of the Commonwealth Labour Advisory Committee from 1964. 

Sources
Who’s Who in Australia 1965: information supplied by Jean Martin, New Town Tasmania 1990; Maritime Worker, 10 March 1969 p.7, 21 July 1969, p 3, 4 May 1970.