Jock Barnes

Harold "Jock" Barnes (17 July 1907 – 31 May 2000) was a New Zealand trade unionist and syndicalist, leader of the Waterside Workers Union from 1944 to 1952.

He left school in 1925 and joined the Lands and Survey Department as a draughting cadet.

Because of his political activities he was “transferred” to the New Plymouth office of the department in 1932, and on refusing to go was dismissed, which he appealed to the Supreme Court and to the Labour Party.

In 1933 he obtained a waterfront job at the Chelsea Sugar Refinery, but was dismissed for refusing to load two Matson Line ships, the Mariposa and Monterey, which had been declared black by American longshoremen.

After obtaining a drainlayer's ticket he went into business for himself with his son Bill, retiring in 1980 at the age of 73.