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| Australian trade union movement | |
|---|---|
| Name | Australian trade union movement |
| Formation | 19th century |
| Type | Labour movement |
| Headquarters | Various (state capitals) |
| Region served | Australia |
| Membership | Variable (historic and current) |
Australian trade union movement
The Australian trade union movement emerged in the 19th century as an organized collectivist response to industrial change, shaping labour conditions, wage setting, and social policy. It has encompassed craft, industrial, and service unions that interacted with institutions such as the Australian Labor Party, the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales, and the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904. The movement's trajectory intersects with events like the Great Strike of 1917, the 1928–29 Maritime strike, and legislative reforms including the Workplace Relations Act 1996.
Origins trace to 19th-century craft unions such as the Amalgamated Society of Engineers and the Shearers' Strike of 1891, which influenced the formation of the Australian Labor Party and the passage of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904. Early 20th-century contests involved the Australian Council of Trade Unions' precursors and major disputes like the 1928–29 Maritime strike and the Great Strike of 1917, intersecting with institutions such as the High Court of Australia and the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission. Post-World War II developments included the role of the Australian Council of Trade Unions in wage arbitration, conflicts with bodies like the Prices and Incomes Tribunal and legislative changes under the Hawke–Keating governments. Later reforms under the Howard Government and the Fair Work Act 2009 reshaped union rights, with contested episodes involving the Workchoices policy and decisions by the Fair Work Commission.
The movement is organized across federated and state lines, centring on peak bodies such as the Australian Council of Trade Unions and state councils like the New South Wales Labor Council and the Victorian Trades Hall Council. Major industrial federations historically included the Australian Workers' Union and the Federated Union configurations, while modern structures encompass enterprise-level bargaining represented by railway, maritime and manufacturing unions such as the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and the Maritime Union of Australia. Internal governance links to registered organisations overseen by agencies like the Australian Electoral Commission for disclosure, and disputes are adjudicated through tribunals including the Fair Work Commission and courts such as the Federal Court of Australia.
Membership has fluctuated with deindustrialisation, shifts in the Australian Services Union sectors, and policy changes affecting sectors like mining, manufacturing and public service represented by unions such as the CFMEU and the Community and Public Sector Union. Demographic changes include growth in female membership in hospitality and healthcare unions like the United Voice (now United Workers Union) and increased migrant worker representation in sectors associated with the Hotels, Restaurants and Catering Union and the Transport Workers Union. Regional variation is apparent between states such as Queensland and Victoria, and occupational splits occur between craft unions like the Electrical Trades Union and white-collar associations including the Finance Sector Union.
Key federations include the Australian Council of Trade Unions; prominent unions comprise the Australian Workers' Union, the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU), the National Union of Workers (now merged into larger entities), the Maritime Union of Australia, the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, and the Transport Workers Union. Historic bodies such as the Australian Railways Union and the Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen's Association influenced later amalgamations. Peak employer bodies with which unions negotiate include the Australian Industry Group and the Business Council of Australia.
The legal scaffold has included the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904, the Industrial Relations Act 1988, the Workplace Relations Act 1996, and the Fair Work Act 2009, adjudicated by the Fair Work Commission and interpreted by the High Court of Australia and the Federal Court of Australia. Case law from tribunals and courts, plus determinations of the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, shaped mechanisms like enterprise bargaining, awards, and unfair dismissal protections. Legislative episodes such as Workchoices provoked litigation and major political responses involving the Australian Labor Party and employer organisations like the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The movement maintains institutional ties to the Australian Labor Party through historical formation, affiliated organisations, and factional linkages involving entities such as the Australian Workers' Union and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association. Political influence manifests in preselection, policy platforms, and campaign funding, interacting with figures and events like the Hawke Government, the Rudd Government, and the Howard Government. Internal union endorsements and branch processes have affected parliamentary careers for MPs including those aligned with the Labor Right and the Labor Left factions, while dispute strategies have intersected with national policy debates on industrial relations and social welfare.
Significant industrial actions include the Shearers' Strike of 1891, the Great Strike of 1917, the 1928–29 Maritime strike, the 1949 Coal Strike, and modern disputes such as the 1998 waterfront dispute involving the Patrick Corporation and the Maritime Union of Australia. Campaigns have spanned wage claims, safety standards in sectors represented by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, anti-poverty and social campaigns involving the Australian Council of Trade Unions, and industrial boycott actions related to international issues engaging bodies like the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism and solidarity links with unions such as the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.
Category:Trade unions in Australia Category:Labor history of Australia