UnionsACT - Unions in Australia

Unions in Australia

Working in Australia: From Master Servant to WorkChoices

A history of Unions in Australia

1788-1849: In this period New South Wales was settled as an English penal colony after the landing of Captain Phillip on 26th January, 1788. The majority of First Fleeters,
the convicts, certainly deserve to be called workers, and their struggles were a lead up to unionism in Australia. Some notable occurrences were:
1791 Convicts Strike: demanding daily issue of rations, not weekly issue.
1804 Castle Hill Rebellion: protest on conditions and rations.
1822 James Straighter, convict shepherd sentenced to 500 lashes, one month solitary confi nement on bread and water, and fi ve years penal
servitude for ... “inciting his Masters’ servants to combine for the purposes of obliging him to raise the wages and increase their
rations”.
1828 Masters and Servants Act of NSW provided that ... “servants could be mprisoned and have their wages forfeited for refusal to work or for
destruction of property, and that Masters found guilty of ill-usage hould be liable to pay damages up to 6 months wages”.
1829 Typographers, supported by carpenters, successfully strike for payment in sterling, against currency reform, which threatened the
value of wages.
1830 Shipwrights union formed.
1831 Boatbuilders union formed.
1833 Cabinetmakers union formed.
1838 Society of Compositors strike and win wage increase of 5s5d per week.
1840 Society of Compositors campaign to restrict the number of apprentices. The government uses convict compositors as
strikebreakers.
1843 Economic depression leads to the formation of the Mutual Protection Society to protect the interests of the middle and working classes of
N.S.W.
1844 The Early Closing Movement seeks the reduction of working hours from 14 to 12 per day.
1848 Political activity of the working class leads to the formation of the Anti-Transportation League.
1850-1900 This period saw the early development of Australian trade unions. Legislation had existed in Britain that outlawed unions, similar in intent to the Masters
and Servants Act, until the passing of the Trade Union Act in 1871. The English and Irish anti-union legislation was not particularly successful in those countries, nor did it prevent union activity in Australia. Transportation ended in the eastern states in 1853, in W.A. in 1868. Various craft unions were formed. Gold was discovered in Bathurst in 1851.
1850 Stonemasons union formed.
1854 The Eureka Stockade results in the deaths of 10 Irish, 2 Scots, 2 Canadians, 2 English, 2 Germans and 1 Australian.
1856 The 8 Hour Day Movement is formed by the Stonemasons in Melbourne and Sydney. Stonemasons struck and won the 8 hour day
(48 hour week), fi rst on two sites in Sydney and then right across Melbourne. Melbourne Trades Hall Committee help unions to
co-operate with each other. This victory is widely regarded as a world first.
1869 Men of the Coranderrk Aboriginal Station Victoria demand wage payments for their labour and offi cial tenure of the station.
1870 The Sydney Trades and Labor Council formed.
1873 The Amalgamated Miners Association formed. The first Seaman’s Unions formed in Sydney and Melbourne.
1875 The Victorian Supervision of Workrooms and Factories Statute was enacted. It focused on limiting the number of hours of women’s
employment and to regulate ventilation, cleanliness and sanitation. Small employers sought to evade these less than onerous regulations.
Stomemasons achieve the 44 hour week. Employers did not resist too strenuously as stonemasons on average died at 36 years of age due to
dust exposure. For most other workers, the 44 hour week took another 50 years to achieve.
1878 The Seaman’s Union organises the maritime strike against the use of cheap Chinese labour by the Australian United Steam Navigation
Company.
1879 The Inter-Colonial Trade Union Congress - the forerunner of the ACTU - is formed. Congress unanimously opposes Chinese immigration.
1881 The N.S.W. Trade Union Act is passed giving union rights and registration.
1882 The Victorian Tailoresses Union is formed, as is the Waterside Workers Union.
1884 The Intercolonial Trade Union Congress is attended by women delegates.
1885 The first Board of Arbitration resolves the dispute in favour of the workers.The Victorian Parliament passed the Factories and Shops Act. The Act
prohibited employment of children under 13 years in factories, limited working hours of women and people under 16 years to 48
hours per week, and included provisions for cleanliness, ventilation, sanitation and adequate working space.
1886 The Shearers Union formed.
1890 Employers form the employers unions - the Pastoralists Union the Chamber of Manufacturers and the Steamship Owners Association.
1891 The Shearers Union strike over freedom of contract. Foundation of the Australian Labour Party. In the wake of the Shearers strike unions
realising the need for a voice in parliament form the ALP.
1892 Miners strike in Broken Hill over wage cuts and employment of scabs.
1894 The Shearers Union strikes again on same issues. The Masters and Servants Act is used against the union - 23 years after England
proclaimed the Trade Union Act. Women win the right to vote - for the first time in the world - in South Australia.
1896 Intercolonial Trade Union Congress resolves to extend the restrictions on Chinese immigration to all non-European peoples.
1897 The first workers’ compensation legislation was introduced in Australia.
1900-1939 The experience of the 1890’s convinced unionists that legislation establishing Arbitration and Conciliation Courts was required. During the period to 1904
the Australian Labour Federation was formed, the first Labor government in the world was elected in Queensland and the fi rst federal Labor Government was formed in 1904.
1901 The Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Union membership 97200 (population 3,774,000). NSW Industrial Arbitration Act passed.
1902 Women in NSW and Commonwealth receive the vote.
1904 Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission established.
1907 The Minimum Basic Wage is established by Mr Justice Higgins in the Harvester Award. A working man is entitled to earn a basic wage that
will support a wife and three children.
1911 Union membership 364,700
1912 Strikes in Brisbane over the Tramways Co. refusal to recognise members’ right to wear union badges.
1918 The Australian Workers Union formed by rural worker organisations.
1920 44 hour week awarded to timber workers and engineers. Others follow suit.
1921 Union membership 703,000.
1926 Federal Crimes Act amended to apply to unions - known as the “Dog Collar Act”.
1927 ACTU is formed.
1930 Women are receiving 54% of male wage rates. During the Great Depression the Industrial Court serves both employers and
government’s interests by abandoning the “needs” concept of wage fixing and introduces a 10% wage cut.
1931 Union membership 769,000.
1935 Queensland building workers broke through, achieving the first industry award in Australia with a 40 hour week. The success had in large part been due to the painters who wanted to reduce the amount of time they were exposed to toxic substances in paint.
1937 The “Dog Collar Act” is applied to waterside workers who refuse to load scrap iron for shipment to Japan.
1939 – 1983 World War 2 had a big impact on the Australian workforce. Women entered the workforce in large numbers and, for the fi rst time, many earned wages close to male rates. Large scale post-war migration started to change the nature of the workforce and Australian culture. The Liberal-Country Party was elected to govern Australia for almost 30 years. Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War generated a mass anti-war movement
involving some unions. The short term of the Whitlam Labor Government (72-75) saw a number of signifi cant reforms including equal pay (in principle), the introduction of a universal health care system, and for the fi rst time, free university education.
1939 As a result of the second World War, women replace male workers in wide range of industries. Workbased child care facilities are provided
and most receive 90% of male rates. 200 of Cummeragunga (NSW) Reserve’s 300 Aboriginal residents pack their bags and leave. The mass desertion is both a spontaneous protest about life on the reserve and an industrial action to deprive the management of their agriculture labour.
1941 Annual Leave of one week becomes standard. Union membership 1,076,600.
1945 Total membership of unions affi liated with the ACTU reaches 300,000. Two weeks annual leave is introduced.
1946 Men replace women in industry. Child care centres are closed. Union membership 1,284,300. Aboriginal workers on stations in the Pilbara, Western Australia, go on strike for better wages and onditions; the strike lasts until 1949.
1948 Queensland Railways strike runs for 9 weeks. Queensland meat dispute - following a campaign organised by the ACTU. 40 hour week is gained. Prime Minister Chifley restores penal provisions.
1949 The Coal Strike for 35 hour week and Long Service Leave result in the use of troops under the “National Emergency (Coal Strike) Act”. The Conservative Menzies Government comes to power with a view to crack down on unions and outlaw the Communist Party of Australia (CPA). A referendum to outlaw the CPA was successfully defeated by progressive trade unions and community groups.
1950 The female wage rate is lifted to 75% of the male wage rate.
1953 Cost of living increases are abolished by the Australian Commission. Penal powers over unions give “teeth to the Act”, allowing heavy fines and jail sentences to be applied to unions, offi cials and members who participate in industrial action.
1956 Union membership 1,690,200.
1957 ACTU restructures its Executive to allow unions from each industry group to elect a representative member.
1963 Annual Leave of 3 weeks becomes standard.
1965 ACTU fi les claims to remove the discriminatory clauses in the Federal and State awards relating to the employment of Aborigines.
- Pastoral Industry Award
- Station Hands Award
- Cattle Station Industry (NT) Award
1966 Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission hands down a decision to grant Aborigines on Northern Territory Cattle Stations equal pay with Europeans from 1st December 1968.
1967 A Federal referendum gives a massive “YES” vote for Aboriginal people to gain Australian citizenship and Federal control of Aboriginal affairs. Aborigines there after are to be included in the census.
1969 The ACTU’s Equal Pay Case paves the way for women to receive pay equal to that of men performing same duties by 1975.
1971 Union membership 2,436,600.
1971-74 As environmental issues and the preservation of historic buildings became a greater concern for the community, construction unions led the drive for Green Bans on heritage sites. Signifi cant areas of Sydney such as the famous Rocks District were preserved as a result. Green ban campaigns also saved many Melbourne landmarks from demolition including the Queen Victoria Market, the Regent Theatre and the City Baths. Actions were also taken up in varying degrees in other states.
1972 The ACTU’s second equal pay case results in the principle of equal pay for equal work being established.
1973 Four weeks annual leave.
1974 The first Roben’s style health and safety legislation is introduced in Australia. The focus of these laws was to remove the previous
preventive legislation and regulation in favour of “enabling” laws which set out general duties and establish mechanisms for fl eshing
out these duties at the workplace level as technologies and industrial practice allow.
1975 Wage indexation is introduced as the main method of wage fixing. Trade Union Training Authority (TUTA) established.
1977 The first work related child care centre since the Second World War is opened at Ryde.
1979 ACTU expands after the merger of the Australian Council of Salaried and Professional Association (ACSPA). The right of women workers to
12 months unpaid maternity leave is achieved.
1981 Wage Indexation is abandoned. 38 hour week is achieved in federal Metal Industry and other awards. ACTU expands after the merger of
the Council of Australian Government Employee Organisation (CAGEO). Unions successfully challenge discriminatory work practices for
women employed by BHP at Wollongong spearing the Jobs for Women campaign that led to the removal of weight restrictions on
jobs and the introduction of the fi rst Australian manual handling standards.
1983-1999 The Accord between the ACTU and the ALP, and the election of a Federal Labor Government in 1983 ushered in a new phase in industrial relations. Unions became involved in tripartite processes and signifi cant changes were made to industrial relations legislation. Maternity leave, occupational superannuation, then later, family leave became award entitlements. Structural problems in the economy were addressed by unions through award restructuring. A policy of strategic unionism was adopted which saw the amalgamation of some 300 unions into 20 “super” unions. Enterprise bargaining became the main avenue for wage increases. In the latter part of this era, conservative State and Federal Governments initiated anti-worker and anti-union legislation.
1983 The Accord ushers in a new era for industrial relations and economic management. Cost of living adjustments and a centralised system of
wage fi xation are introduced. ACTU Congress elects first woman to the ACTU Executive.
1984 Job Protection Case. National Occupational Health & Safety Commission is established. Union membership 3,028,500.
1985 Queensland power industry dispute leads to draconian anti-union law passed by State Parliament. ACTU Congress expands to incorporate State public service unions. The ACTU’s test case on adoption leave is successful.
1986 The Accord Mark 2. Introduction of universal superannuation for Australian workers.
1987 ACTU Congress elects 5 women to the ACTU Executive. The two tiered wage system is introduced. Unions begin a drive for industry and
award restructuring.
1988 ACTU/CAI issue joint statement on participative practices (industrial democracy). Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 is replaced by
Industrial Relations Act 1988. Structural Efficiency Principle is introduced.
1989 Unions embark on Award Restructuring process.
1990 ACTU drive to reform the Australian education and training system.
1992 Enterprise bargaining is introduced into Industrial Relations Act. Union amalgamation accelerates. ACTU supports the process of
reconciliation with Australia’s indigenous people. ACTU wins Parental Leave test case.
1993 Victorian Government introduces legislation to reduce award and union coverage. ACTU Congress launches the Aboriginal/Torres Strait
Islander Trade Union Employment Development Strategy. Victorian conservative Government introduces legislation to reduce award and
union coverage.
1994 Industrial Relations Reform Act 1993 comes into operation.
1995 Jennie George elected as fi rst woman President of the ACTU. ACTU wins Personal Carers’ Leave Test case. First Organising Works Program
begins to train new organisers.
1996 Conservative Howard Government elected – introduces Workplace Relations Act, reducing workers entitlements under awards and
severely limiting unions’ capacity to organise and pursue members’ interests. NSW Labor Government elected and repeals anti worker
laws in NSW.
1998 MUA dispute – union movement stands together and, with community support, wins a great victory against employer and
Government attacks on the right to organise and be a union member.
1999 Second wave of anti-union legislation from the Howard Government is defeated by a combination of union and community activity.
unions@work adopted by ACTU as blueprint for renewal and rebuilding of the union movement. Queensland Labor Government introduces new industrial laws
repealing previous anti-worker legislation. The award system is once again protected, meaningful equal pay provisions are introduced,
casuals’ rights to carer’s and parental leave are introduced in an Australian first.
2000 - Today Building on reforms started in the late 1990s, other State Labor Governments start to introduce more worker friendly industrial laws.
New improvements in working hours and work and family conditions are won through the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. New industrial manslaughter laws are introduced in the ACT with much employer outcry. At the same time, the federal Government targets the building industry with a $66 million tax payer funded witch hunt to demonise building workers.
2000 Federal Coalition Government’s attempts to further reduce workers’ rights to organise through second and third “wave” amendments of the Workplace Relations Act defeated by union and community activism concentrating on the Democrats’ votes in the
Senate.
2001 Ansett, one of two of Australia’s major airlines, collapses and is placed in the hands of an Administrator. Eventually, seventeen thousand
Ansett employees lose their jobs and most of their accrued employee entitlements.
2001 The Howard Government announced a Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry to be headed by Justice Terry Cole
QC. $60 million will be spent in a witch-hunt in an attempt to discredit the union and building workers. The Commission ignores
materials supplied to it on taxation fraud, evasion of workers’ compensation, illegal immigration rackets and systemic
abuses of corporations’ laws.
2002 The federal Government establishes the Building Industry Taskforce as a “watch dog” for the industry. The Taskforce targets building workers
across the country.
2002 The WA State Labor Government introduces new industrial laws that re-established the primacy of collective over individual agreements,
introduced good faith bargaining and strengthened the powers of the state industrial tribunal and repealed anti worker and union penal
provisions.
2002 ACTU launches the reasonable Working Hours campaign. Research reveals that Australia has the second longest working hours in the
OECD. In response the ACTU launches a test case to limit the number of hours worked.
2002 ACTU Living Wage case achieves $18 increase in the minimum wage for low paid workers. This is the highest safety net adjustment
arbitrated in 20 years. The federal Howard Government establishes the Building Industry Taskforce as a “watch dog” for the industry. The Taskforce targets
building workers across the country.
2004 The South Australian Labor Government introduces new industrial laws that improve minimum conditions for all workers, increased the
powers of the state industrial tribunal and introduced good faith bargaining provisions.
2004 The Liberal-National Coalition wins a majority in the Australian Senate – the first time in over 30 years.
2004 The ACTU test case on Termination, Change and Redundancy secures increases in redundancy pay for workers and introduces redundancy
pay for workers employed by small businesses.
2004 The ACTU, unions and community groups campaign together against James Hardie and eventually sign a heads of agreement in what is
believed to be the largest personal injury settlement in Australia’s history – up to $4.3 billion dollars for victims of asbestosis and
related diseases. The ACT Government introduces Australia’s first industrial manslaughter laws that provide for maximum fi nes of $1.25 million for companies and a
maximum gaol sentence of 20 years for the employer’s offi cers who are convicted of industrial manslaughter where they are found to be negligent
in causing or contributing to a worker’s death.
2005 Significant gains are made in the ACTU’s test case on Work and Family. Unpaid parental leave is extended to 24 months for both
parents, fathers can take up to eight weeks unpaid leave to care for their child at the time of the birth, and the principal carer can work
part time up to the time the child is of school age. Many of these conditions are agreed to by employers.
2005 John Howard and the Conservatives win control of the Senate for the first time in over 30 years. The union movement faces its most
sustained and concerted attack on workers’ rights in our history.
2005 The Howard Government announces its intention to severely curtail the rights of unions and reduce workers rights and conditions after 1
July 2005.
2005 Howard legislates for new powers for the Building Industry Taskforce – now the Australian Building Construction Commissioner (ABCC) to force anyone to hand over documents, provide information or answer questions – or face imprisonment. The kind of powers usually reserved for bodies investigating terrorism or serious crime!
2005 The ACTU and all unions embark on the “Your Rights at Work” campaign.
2007 Federal Election

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