History of the Union Movement
Australia's trade union movement can trace its history back to the first half of last century.
The Tolpuddle Martyrs were perhaps Australia's first unionists, although their involvement with this country was not one of choice.
In 1833, 6 poor farm labourers from Tolpuddle, England met with a view to forming a union. They had sought a pay increase of 1 shilling, as other farm labourers were receiving 10/-. They earned only 9/-. As a result of their demands, their pay was reduced to 8/-. A union seemed the only way to achieve decent pay. For trying to form a union, the 6 were charged with the obscure crime of administering an illegal oath.
They had little chance of acquittal when their trial came up, as the jury was comprised of wealthy land owners. The 6 were quickly, and quietly, convicted (quietly as the Government of the day did not want to make martyrs out of them) and transported to New South Wales. News of the convictions did spread however, and mass rallies were held in their support. In 1836, the 6 were given a free pardon by the King.
Not long after this, Australian workers began to organise themselves into groups based on crafts. These early unions usually acted as friendly societies, offering financial support to members in need.
The first time Australian workers really flexed their industrial muscle and agitated for social change was in 1855, when a campaign was launched for an 8 hour day in Sydney. This was won, but for only a few trades.
In 1856, Melbourne building workers fought for, and won an 8 hour day for all trades in the building industry. This effectively reduced the working week from 60 to 48 hours, a world first. April 21 1856 saw the first Eight Hour March and this continued until 1951.
Most workers continue to enjoy the Labour Day public holiday, which union activism won for them. However, it has never been a University of Melbourne holiday, which is ironic, as the first Eight Hour March started from Melbourne University by builders employed there.
However the winning of an eight hour day for building workers by no means marked the end of harsh working conditions. Women workers, and children in particular, were subjected to very exploitative working conditions and wages. An enquiry into factory conditions in 1874 found that women working in millinery establishments were kept at work for most of the night during the busy season. It was also common practice for barmaids to be compelled to remain on the job for between 14 and 18 hours out of every twenty-four. In those days women were paid far less than men, and in 1907, the Harvester Judgement set the female wage at a little more than half of that to be paid to men.
The lesson learned from the 8 hour campaign was that workers had to organise themselves into unions to achieve real change. Change would not just happen; it has to be fought for. From 1856, many unions sprang up in many trades, and eventually they too won an 8 hour day.
The first union of women workers was formed in 1882. The Tailoresses Union was formed in Melbourne and it succeeded in gaining improvements in tailoresses' wages and working conditions, when they went on strike in support of a "catalogue of claims".
Women workers started to become more unionised at the start of the century, largely due to the efforts of a small number of women activists such as Sarah Lewis, Ellen Mulcahy, and Minnie Felstead . Their efforts brought about an upsurge in the formation of female unions or female sections of male unions. Some examples of the unions formed are The Shirt and Collarmakers Union, the Confectioners Union, the Domestic Workers Union, the Laundresses Union, Matchworkers Union, The Female Hotel, Club, Restaurants and Caterers Employees Union.
Many unions of today owe their existence to unions that were established by women.
Peak Councils and the formation of the ACTU
Australia's first peak union body, that is, a centralised organisation that had many unions affiliated to it was the Melbourne Trades Hall Committee. This is now the Victorian Trades Hall Council.
The Committee was established in 1859, and met for the first time on 24 May 1859. The Committee's first meeting was attended by 2,000 people, and it was held in a building on the corner of Lygon and Victoria Streets, Carlton. The building was the first of its kind in the world, but it was replaced by a more permanent building in the 1870s. This building, which has been added on to over the years, was known as the Working Man's Parliament. Up until 1960, women unionists had their own separate building, the Female Operatives' Hall on the Trades Hall site.
The first Inter Colonial Trade Union Congress was held in Sydney in 1879, and from this we can trace the beginnings of Australia's peak union council, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).
For many years, attempts were made to form a national peak council, but these all failed, mainly because of the problems of distance, and the fact that Australia was not yet a nation.
The Inter Colonial Congress met many times in the 1880s and 1890s, but could never see its recommendations implemented.
In 1913 a Federal Grand Council of Labour was formed, but it was ineffective.
Around this time, the union movement was split on its future direction. This was because the concept of One Big Union was gaining favour. During World War 1, the idea of one union for all workers reached its peak of popularity.
A congress in 1918 endorsed the One Big Union concept, and named it the Workers Industrial Union of Australia. Nothing came of it though.
In 1921, another attempt to form One Big Union was made and this time, it was called the Australasian Workers Union.
By this time, the idea of One Big Union was losing favour amongst workers. Individual unions feared that they would lose their identity that meant so much to them. The A.L.P. leadership of that time also opposed One Big Union.
Finally, in 1927, the Australasian Council of Trade Unions was born, and this time a national peak union body not only survived, it grew.
In 1947 it became the Australian Council of Trade Unions. This did not mean that the ACTU was free of troubles. The Australian Workers Union, at one time Australia's biggest single union, refused to join the ACTU until 1967.
Also the ACTU affiliates in those early years were mostly blue collar unions. Although white collar unions were formed as early as 1880, they had their own peak Council. In 1979, ACSPA which represented white collar private sector unions amalgamated with the ACTU. In 1981, CAGEO which represented public sector white collar unions amalgamated.
Although the nature of unions changes continuously, one thing remains constant, that is, unions are continually under attack by employers and governments. Attacks on the union movement are at their worst during wars, and times of economic hardship. This is evident if one looks at some of the major industrial disputes in this country.
In the 1890s, during a terrible depression, there was a strike lasting for months which involved Waterside Workers, Seamen and Shearers.
In 1917, during World War I, there was a railways strike which involved 100,000 workers. It lasted for 2 months.
During the Depression of 1929-33, wages were cut by 10% in the private sector, and 20% in the public sector. Pensions were also cut, and those without work were forced into doing arduous work, under terrible conditions for minimal pay.
It is interesting to compare the Depression years with the economic situation today. During those dark years, workers were asked to make terrible sacrifices for the sake of the country. Yet between 1931 and 1934, company profits rose an average 43.5%. Individual productivity also rose.
Today, workers are being asked to make sacrifices for the good of the country. Real wages have fallen significantly. Yet company profits, especially in the manufacturing sector, are at their highest levels since the boom years of the 1960s.
