Maritime workers around Australia will pause tomorrow to pay tribute to former Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) national secretary John Coombs as his funeral takes place.
At 11am EST, ports across the nation will see container cranes raised and a minutes' silence in honour of the contribution John Coombs made to the maritime industry and those working on the waterfront.
At the conclusion of the minutes' silence, a 'sounding of horns' will occur. All ships, cranes and waterfront machinery will sound horns as a final tribute to Comrade John Coombs.
Mr Coombs made an enormous contribution to maritime workers and the wider union movement.
His determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with waterside workers and resist the sacking of workers by Patricks in 1998 made industrial relations history and elevated John to a national figure.
For the MUA and the wider union movement, his leadership energised a generation of workers and activists to resist the destructive forces of capital and reaffirm their commitment to collective action.
John Coombs died last week aged 81.
Paying tribute, MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said: "John has left an indelible mark on both our union and the Australian aspirational way of life for a fairer more just and economically effective nation."
"He was tough and courageous in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds and was a lightning rod for galvanizing actions against injustice and elitism, but also for aspirations of a genuine vision for Australian political, social, economic and industrial rights based on access and true process."
The MUA will be organising, along with John's family, friends and comrades, a memorial tribute to the life and work of John Coombs. The date of the memorial service is yet to be announced.
