The New Zealand Seamen's Union has come a long way from its origins in Port Chalmers to now being part of the Maritime Union of New Zealand, the instigator of recent actions to defend their Ports of Auckland members from contracting out and mass redundancy.
And Grant's book illustrates how the negative public and media perception of waterside workers has not changed through the years.
The author's research uncovered evidence to verify this including a letter by a Mrs L. J. Whiston to The New Zealand Herald in 1962:"I will not accept an argument about seamen being without work.
"They are a lazy lot and work when they want to. In any event, surely the Welfare State copes with 'out-of-workers?' Apparently you are easily aroused to pity over them, but this younger generation of New Zealanders do not interest you."
What Grant does best is extensively explain why seafarers (along with other waterside workers) have battled for better working conditions.
He explores the rise of the union during the late 1870s when a seafarer's shipboard was often one of poor pay, cramped living conditions, bad food and long hours. He explains why and how these struggles were waged by the union with shipping companies through the years.
After all, the Seamen's Union played a pivotal role in some of the biggest strikes seen in New Zealand such as the Maritime Strike of 1890 when it was defeated by the aggressive actions of ship owners.
Grant explores how this defeat led the union into accepting the Liberal Government's industrial conciliation and arbitration system in 1894.
Consequently, this action eventually split the union in two with the formation of the radical Auckland Seamen's and Firemen's Union, which rejected the system on the basis it favoured employers over workers.
The union has also become embroiled in other disputes through the years including the 1951 Waterfront Lockout when seafarers gave their full support to locked-out waterfront workers.
Almost each and every one of the union's fights is covered.
The personalities who drove the union are also well profiled. From its earliest leaders such as John Millar and Tom Young down to itslatter-day leaders including Fintan Patrick-Walsh and Dave Morgan, the author details how each contributed to not only the growth of the Seamen's Union but that of the wider New Zealand union movement as well.
One of the key elements of the book is its honesty.
Even though the Seamen's Union originally commissioned this work, the author lays bare the internal political and personal disputes that divided the organisation at times. Its successes are numerously detailed in the form of driving the establishment of two shipping lines (the Jubilee Shipping Company and the New Zealand Shipping Corporation) and other campaigns focusing on the need for New Zealand seafarers to work on New Zealand-owned carriers and, of course, the successful actions that progressively led to improved pay and conditions.
The stories of the union's victories and defeats ebb and flow like the rise and fall of waves throughout the book.
One of its small deficiencies is the appearance of more than the odd spelling and grammatical error, which suggests the need for more extensive proofreading prior to any reprint. Otherwise, Jagged Seas will be an enjoyable read for those interested in our maritime or industrial relations history.
• Chris Ford is a writer, political commentator and blogger from Dunedin.
