AWU

Australian Workers' Union
Founded	1894
Members	130,000
Country	Australia
Affiliation	ACTU, ALP. ITF, IUF, IMF
Key people	Bill Shorten, National Secretary
Office location	Melbourne, Victoria
Website	www.awu.net.au
known as AWU-FIMEE Amalgamated Union 1993-1995

The Australian Workers' Union (AWU) is one of Australia's largest and oldest trade unions. It traces its origins to unions founded in the pastoral and mining industries in the 1880s, and currently has approximately 130,000 members. It has exercised an influence on the Australian trade union movement, and on the Australian Labor Party, particularly at state level, throughout its history. Image File history File links Awu. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is the peak national body representing workers in Australia. ... ALP may mean: ALP (automobile). ... The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) is a global union federation of transport workers trade unions, founded in 1896. ... International Metalworkers Federation (IMF) is a global union federation of metalworkers trade unions, founded in Zürich, Switzerland in August 1893. ... Bill Shorten William Richard Shorten (born 1967), Australian trade union official, is National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), one of Australias oldest and largest unions. ... This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre. ... “VIC” redirects here. ... A union (labor union in American English; trade union, sometimes trades union, in British English; either labour union or trade union in Canadian English) is a legal entity consisting of employees or workers having a common interest, such as all the assembly workers for one employer, or all the workers... Pastoralism is a form of farming, such as agriculture and horticulture. ... Chuquicamata, the second largest open pit copper mine in the world, Chile. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

History

The AWU grew from a number of earlier unions, notably the Australasian Shearers Union, founded by William Spence and David Temple in Creswick, Victoria in 1886. This union joined with shearers' unions in Bourke and Wagga in New South Wales to form the Amalgamated Shearers Union of Australia in 1887. In 1894 this union amalgamated with the General Labourers Union, which had formed in 1891, to form the Australian Workers' Union. For the British entomologist, see William Spence (entomologist). ... Creswick is a town in west-central Victoria, Australia. ... “VIC” redirects here. ... Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Location of Bourke in New South Wales (red) Bourke is a town and Local Government Area in the north of New South Wales, Australia. ... Wagga Wagga (pronounced wogga wogga, informally called Wagga) is a city in New South Wales, Australia. ... “NSW” redirects here. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

The Queensland Shearers Union, formed in 1887, and the Queensland Workers Union merged in 1891 to form the Amalgamated Workers Union of Queensland. In 1904 the AWUQ amalgamated with the AWU, to form a union with a combined membership of 34,000. 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... Year 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (see link for calendar). ...

The AWU later absorbed a number of other unions in the pastoral, mining and timber industries notably the Amalgamated Workers Association of Queensland in 1913, and the Federated Mining Employees Association of Australia in 1917. Since these industries were the principal sources of Australia's wealth in the 19th century, the AWU soon became Australia's largest and most powerful union. Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ...

The defeat of the great shearers' and maritime unions strikes in the 1890s led the AWU to reject direct action and extremism, and it has been a force for moderation - its critics would say conservatism^{[citation needed]} - in the Australian union movement ever since. It was a firm opponent of the Industrial Workers of the World, the Communist Party of Australia, NSW Premier Jack Lang and other radical forces in the Australian labour movement. For many years Communists were banned from AWU membership. In the 1930s the Communist Party launched a rival Pastoral Workers Industrial Union, but this failed to break the AWU's grip on its membership. The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or the Wobblies) is an international union currently headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. At its peak in 1923 the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. ... The Communist Party of Australia was founded in 1920 and dissolved in 1991. ... John Thomas Lang (December 21, 1876 - September 27, 1975) was a prominent Australian politician during the early twentieth century. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ...

When the trade unions formed the Australian Labor Party following the defeat of the 1890s strikes, the AWU became a powerful influence in the party, particularly in Queensland and Western Australia, and to a lesser extent in the other states. Labor state governments were heavily influenced by AWU leaders such as Edward Grayndler, Tom Dougherty and NSW AWU Secretary Charlie Oliver. Labor was in government in Queensland from 1915 to 1929 and from 1932 to 1957, and the AWU was able to exert considerable political influence through long-serving premiers such as William Forgan Smith and Ned Hanlon. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Motto(s): Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Anna Bligh (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 28  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $158,506 (3rd... Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State or the Golden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $100,900 (4th)  - Product per capita  $50,355/person... Edward Grayndler (12 October 1867 – 12 March 1943) was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1921 to 1934 and 1936 to 1943, and General Secretary of the Australian Workers Union from 1912 to 1941. ... Year 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday[1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... William Forgan Smith (1887-1953), was Premier of Queensland from 1932 to 1942. ... Edward Michael Hanlon (1887-1952), was Premier of Queensland from 1946 to 1952. ...

The federation of the Australian colonies in 1901 led to the establishment of a federal arbitration system. The AWU strongly supported arbitration as mechanism of resolving industrial disputes without resorting to strike action. The Pastoral Industry Award, negotiated by the AWU, was the first federal award granted by the Commonwealth Arbitration Court. The AWU maintained its registration under state industrial systems and continues to participate in many state awards. Year 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

During the years since federation that the Australian industrial relations system has been dominated by the Court and its successors, the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission and the Australian Industral Relations Commission, the AWU and its members were among that system's principal beneficiaries. The AWU remains a strong advocate of arbitration in the union movement. The AWU was not affiliated with the Australian Council of Trade Unions for many years, preferring to maintain its independent relationship with the arbitration system. In Queensland the AWU is one of only two unions (the other being the SDA) not affiliated with the Queensland Council of Unions. The Industrial Relations Act 1988 established the Australian Industrial Relations Commission which replaced the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission. ... The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is the peak national body representing workers in Australia. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Queensland Council of Unions is a representative body of Trade union organisations in the State of Queensland, Australia. ...

With the shift in employment from the pastoral industries to the urban manufacturing and service sectors, the AWU's political influence and power declined as the pastoral areas became less significant in terms of employee numbers. This shift led to many rural electorate areas that were influenced by the AWU and workers falling to the conservative side of politics and in particular the National Party. The split in the Queensland ALP in 1957, which resulted in Labor being in opposition for 32 years, deprived the AWU of its greatest area of influence, although it remained influential in the long-serving (1941-65 and 1976-88) New South Wales Labor governments. The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ...

In 1993 the AWU amalgamated with the Federation of Industrial Manufacturing & Engineering Employees (formally the Federated Ironworkers' Association of Australia) to form the AWU-FIMEE Amalgamated Union. In 1995 the union reverted to using the name Australian Workers' Union.[1]

In recent years the AWU has sought to modernise and to broaden its membership beyond its declining traditional base. Today it represents workers in the metals, aviation, oil and gas, mining, construction, food processing and retail industries, as well as its traditional base in the pastoral and mining areas. Its expansion into new areas has brought the AWU into conflict with some other unions, particularly the National Union of Workers and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union. The National Union of Workers is a large Australian trade union. ... The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) is Australias main trade union in construction, forestry and furnishing products, mining and energy production. ...

The AWU is the most powerful union in the Labor Right faction of the Labor Party, and its current National Secretary, Bill Shorten, is standing for election to the House of Representatives at the next election. Some speak of him as a future Labor Prime Minister. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Bill Shorten William Richard Shorten (born 1967), Australian trade union official, is National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), one of Australias oldest and largest unions. ... Australian House of Representatives chamber Entrance to the House of Representatives The Australian House of Representatives is one of the two houses (chambers) of the Parliament of Australia. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ...

For many years the AWU published two newspapers, The Australian Worker in New South Wales and The Worker (founded in 1890) in Brisbane. Under the editorship of Henry Boote from 1916 to 1943 they were among the most influential union newspapers in Australia. The two papers were merged in 1974 and today The Australian Worker is published in a magazine format in association with Australian Consolidated Press. Year 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Australian Consolidated Press (ACP), a member of Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd. ...

Structure

The AWU is a federation of state, regional and industry-based branches. Each member of the AWU belong to one of twelve geographic or industry-based branches. Every four years AWU members elect branch and national officials: the National Secretary, National Assistant Secretary and National President. They also elect the National Executive and the Branch Executives which act as the Board of Directors for the union.

The AWU's rules are registered with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and its internal elections are conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission. This has largely ended the regular (and sometimes justified) allegations of corruption which used to surround AWU elections. Liam Banger Jacksons Australian Industrial Relations Tribunal, or AIRT (known from 1969 to 1973 as the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, and from 1973 to 1988 as the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission), is a tribunal with powers under the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth). ... AEC logo The Australian Electoral Commission, or the AEC, is the federal government agency in charge of organising and supervising federal elections. ...

The AWU is affiliated with the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the International Metalworkers Federation, the International Union of Foodworkers and the International Transport Workers Federation. The AWU's National President is Bill Ludwig, and its National Secretary is Bill Shorten. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is the peak national body representing workers in Australia. ... International Metalworkers Federation (IMF) is a global union federation of metalworkers trade unions, founded in Zürich, Switzerland in August 1893. ... The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) is a global union federation of transport workers trade unions, founded in 1896. ... William Patrick Ludwig OAM, Australian trade union official, is National President and Queensland state secretary of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), one of Australias oldest and largest unions. ... Bill Shorten William Richard Shorten (born 1967), Australian trade union official, is National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), one of Australias oldest and largest unions. ...

National Secretaries of the AWU

• William Spence 1894-1900
• Donald Macdonell 1900-1911
• Tom White 1911-12
• Edward Grayndler 1912-41
• Clarrie Fallon 1941-43
• Beecher Hay 1943-44
• Tom Dougherty 1944-72
• Frank Mitchell 1972-83
• Gill Barr 1983-1987
• Errol Hodder 1987-91
• Michael Forshaw 1991-94
• Ian Cambridge 1994-96 (Jointly)
• Steve Harrison 1994-1997 (Jointly)
• Terry Muscat 1997-2001
• Bill Shorten 2001-

For the British entomologist, see William Spence (entomologist). ... Donald Macdonell (January 17, 1778-June 13, 1861) was a political figure in Upper Canada. ... Edward Grayndler (12 October 1867 – 12 March 1943) was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1921 to 1934 and 1936 to 1943, and General Secretary of the Australian Workers Union from 1912 to 1941. ... Michael George Forshaw (born 11 January 1952), Australian politician, has been a member of the Australian Senate for the state of New South Wales since May 1994, representing the Australian Labor Party. ... Steve Harrison (born 1949) is the Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives in New Yorks 13th District Map) for the 2006 election. ... Bill Shorten William Richard Shorten (born 1967), Australian trade union official, is National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), one of Australias oldest and largest unions. ...

External links

Organized Labour Portal

• Official Website