The FDU, along with a number of other maritime unions, also boycotted a chartered foreign flagship, the Texaco Skandinavia, which Caltex attempted to employ on domestic routes.
[6] The Firemen and Deckhands Union also participated in the imposition of Green Bans on the demolition of historic buildings in The Rocks area of Sydney, then slated for redevelopment into high-rise office blocks.
The Rocks has a strong working-class, maritime history, which was preserved through the initiative of a number of unions, the first time such an action had been taken.
Later, during the 1960s the union moved further to the left, and became involved in a number of political boycotts, aimed at putting pressure on foreign regimes by restricting their trade with Australia.
The FDU was also strongly active in the anti-apartheid boycotts of the late 20th century, and sent a delegate to the first legal meeting of the African National Congress in 1991.