I remember coming out on strike in Southampton when I was on the Sylvania.
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The dispute had started on the Carinthia a week or so before, so the company must have thought that by diverting the ship to Southampton the Liverpool crew wouldn't take strike action. They certainly misread the attitude of the Scouser.
On the beach in So'ton, tired, hungry and skint, but we couldn't get a measly cup of tea off the Salvation army. Despite the many times that we never let their collection box pass without throwing something in.
After a resolution was passed to take action and convince others to join the dispute we travelled home on British Rail and because we were all brasic we all gave our name and address in. I gave my true Name and address like the rest. The train was absolutely full with striking seamen but I didn't hear of anyone getting a bill for the fare. Maybe the NUR intervened, I don't know who had the authority to wipe out the bill for a train full of non-payers, but whoever it was;Thanks.
I too got the 'Seaman's Reform Movement' stamp over my VNC and thought I'd be barred from Cunard but was pleasantly surprised when the strike was over I joined the Pavia, a Cunard medi boat on the 15/10/60, sadly I only got one trip out of it.
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