The Gurindji strike, 1966

August 16, 2023

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following post may contain…

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The 1979 strike of the Union of Christmas Island Workers

August 1, 2023

In 1979 the Union of Christmas Island Workers (UCIW), made up predominantly of migrant workers…

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60 years since the Yirrkala bark petition

July 27, 2023

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article does include images of…

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Remembering Simon Crean

June 29, 2023

The Australian union movement pays tribute to Simon Crean, former ACTU President and leader of…

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Our Voice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander unionists making history

June 27, 2023

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this page does contain the images…

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An introduction to the Australian Living Peace Museum

May 24, 2023

By Associate Professor Bobbie Oliver, the University of Western Australia The histories of the peace…

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The right to paid union training leave – a short history

By Professor Anthony Forsyth, RMIT The establishment of the Trade Union Training Authority (TUTA) by…

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The 1967 referendum

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article does include images of…

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Remembering the Pilbara Strike, 1946-1949

April 27, 2023

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this webpage does include the images…

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Lessons from the campaign for the eight hour day

April 24, 2023

By Professor Sean Scalmer, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne….

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Remembering William Cooper

March 23, 2023

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Readers are advised that this page does include images of…

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The first Sydney Mardi Gras – and the hidden history of LGBTIQA+ unionists!

June 22, 2022

On Friday 24 June we celebrate the anniversary of the first Sydney Mardi Gras, which…

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Tribute to Tom McDonald: a lifetime winning for workers

May 24, 2022

‘When it comes to the living standards of working people I know this: without Tom…

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The origins of May Day

April 27, 2022

The first of May has long been a day of celebration for the international workers’…

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21 April 1856 – Melbourne Stonemasons take action for the 8-Hour Day

April 14, 2022

On 21 April in 1856, building workers in Melbourne took strike action and won the…

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MUA: Here to Stay! The 1998 Waterfront Dispute

April 1, 2022

In April of 1998, the Patrick Stevedores corporation sacked all of its stevedoring workers in…

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The power of union learning: a snapshot from the ‘70s

March 30, 2022

A guest post by Alice Garner.  In 1977, hundreds of shop stewards, from every corner…

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Australian unions win maternity leave – 1979

March 7, 2022

Trade unions have a long and proud history of campaigning for parental leave to support…

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Remembering Edna Ryan: Champion of Equality

February 9, 2022

After a lifetime campaigning for equality for women workers, Edna Ryan passed away on 10…

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The campaign for asbestos justice and workers’ compensation

February 7, 2022

February 8, 2007, was a major milestone in the ongoing campaign by workers and their…

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How unions helped build Medicare

January 30, 2022

Medicare wouldn’t exist without the union movement. On 1 February 1984, Medicare came into operation. …

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1936 Maritime Strike by Torres Strait Islander Workers

January 12, 2022

In January 1936, a Maritime Strike was launched by by Torres Strait Islander workers. This…

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The 1972 Equal Pay case

December 10, 2021

Today we celebrate an important milestone in the union campaign for gender equity: the 1972…

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The Metal Workers win the 38-hour week

December 7, 2021

On 8 December 1981, unionists in the metal industry voted to end a long industrial…

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“Pig Iron Bob” and the 1938 Port Kembla strike

November 11, 2021

On 15 November 1938, dockers at Port Kembla (near Wollongong), members of the Waterside Workers’…

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The Harvester Judgement and the basic wage

November 4, 2021

On 8 November 1907 HB Higgins, the President of the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Court,…

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Brian Manning: a life in the struggle

November 2, 2021

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following post may contain…

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Why Nelson Mandela thanked the Australian union movement

October 25, 2021

On the 25th of October, 1990, Nelson Mandela delivered a thank you speech to the…

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The 1916 campaign against conscription

October 13, 2021

On the 28th of October, 1916, the union-led campaign against conscription for overseas service won…

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Zelda D’Aprano’s Equal Pay protest

On 21 October 1969, legendary union activist Zelda D’Aprano chained herself to the doors of…

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West Gate Bridge collapse

Today we commemorate one of the worst industrial disasters in Australia’s history: the collapse of…

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1963: The ACTU backs the campaign for wage equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers

September 28, 2021

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following post may contain…

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Henry Lawson: the workers’ poet

Today we are commemorating Henry Lawson, who in the late nineteenth century was a superstar…

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The ACTU’s 1941 Equal Pay Conference

On 2 September 1941, unionists gathered at Melbourne’s Trades Hall for a special conference. In…

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Jennie George becomes the first woman elected ACTU President

In September 1995, Jennie George became the first woman to be elected as President of…

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How unions won the weekend

September 7, 2021

Did you know that workers in their unions had to take action to win the…

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A short history of unions taking action for equal pay!

August 31, 2021

31 August is Equal Pay Day – a day that draws attention to the ongoing…

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Union solidarity with East Timor

August 27, 2021

In 1999, East Timor was in flames. On August 30, the Timorese people voted overwhelmingly…

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The Gurindji strike, 1966

August 20, 2021

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following post may contain…

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Stories of Hope & Change: Muriel Heagney

August 17, 2021

Times are tough right now, and it can be easy to lose hope. But Australia’s…

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1890 Maritime Strike

August 12, 2021

The largest strike in pre-Federation Australia began on the 15th of August, 1890 – the…

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The ACTU backs Noonkanbah protests

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following post may contain…

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From the archives – the ACTU’s 60th birthday

July 26, 2021

At its 1987 Congress, the ACTU celebrated its 60th birthday. Alongside union leaders such as…

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1971 day of protest for retired workers

July 20, 2021

On the 21st of July we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ACTU’s 1971 Social…

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The 1976 strike to defend universal healthcare

July 9, 2021

Did you know that in 1976 the union movement led one of the largest strikes…

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Australia’s unions v. Frank Sinatra

Did you ever hear about the time that Frank Sinatra, one of the most famous…

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The history of the minimum wage

June 30, 2021

Where was the first place in the world to introduce a minimum wage? In the…

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The 1978 Mardi Gras

June 18, 2021

The 1970s were a really tough time for LGBTIQA+ people in Australia. To be honest…

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How unions helped build Superannuation

Why are unions so insistent on defending superannuation – and why are some right-wing politicians…

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The 1957 Palm Island strike

June 9, 2021

In June, 1957, seven Indigenous men and their families on Palm Island were arrested at…

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The 1891 Shearers’ Strike

May 20, 2021

This week we remember the Shearers’ Strike of 1891, a defining moment for the labour…

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Remembering Bob Hawke

May 12, 2021

Bob Hawke, former Prime Minister and President of the ACTU, passed away on the 16th…

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Muriel Heagney’s 60 year campaign for Equal Pay

Today we commemorate the life of Muriel Heagney, a union hero and long-term campaigner for…

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Why do we celebrate May Day?

April 28, 2021

The first of May has long been a day of celebration for the international workers’…

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1856: the Eight-Hour Day strike

April 21, 2021

On 21 April in 1856, building workers in Melbourne took strike action and won the…

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MUA: Here to Stay!

April 7, 2021

In 1998 the Howard Government and the anti-union Patricks Corporation took on the Maritime Union…

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The long campaign by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers for equal pay – and the 1966 decision

March 11, 2021

There is a long history of Indigenous workers being denied equal pay in Australia. Before…

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The Engineering Union wins the 44 hour week – 1927

February 23, 2021

Today we are remembering the Amalgamated Engineering Union’s (AEU) campaign to win the 44-hour week…

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The 1985 SEQEB dispute

February 10, 2021

Today we are revisiting the dark moment in Australian history in 1985 when the Queensland…

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Victory in the ASU’s campaign for Equal Pay

January 28, 2021

Today we are celebrating the campaign for Equal Pay for community sector workers led by…

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1912 Brisbane general strike

January 20, 2021

Can you imagine being fired from your job simply for wearing a union badge? That’s…

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The 1936 Maritime Strike by Torres Strait Islander workers

January 12, 2021

Today we remember the beginning of the 1936 Maritime Strike by Torres Strait Islander workers….

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The campaign for paid parental leave

January 7, 2021

For more than thirty years Australian unions campaigned for a paid parental leave scheme. Before…

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The 1972 Equal Pay decision

December 15, 2020

In December of 1972, the Arbitration Commission handed down its historic decision in favour of…

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Unions win the 38-hour work week

December 7, 2020

In December 1981, a union campaign led to metal workers winning the 38-hour working week….

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The Eureka Stockade

December 2, 2020

Today we commemorate the Eureka Stockade – the rebellion on the goldfields in 1854. In…

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Your Rights at Work victorious!

November 24, 2020

On the 24th of November 2007, the union movement delivered a massive defeat to the…

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Remembering Ted Grayndler

October 9, 2020

Today we remember the significant contribution made to the Australian union movement by Ted Grayndler…

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Jennie George is elected ACTU President

September 28, 2020

On the 29th of September 1995, Jennie George became the first woman to be elected…

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Albert Monk: a lifetime of unionism

September 14, 2020

Today we are remembering Albert Monk, who served as both Secretary and President of the…

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Remembering Jean Daley

August 24, 2020

  Today we remember the long-time union activist and leader Jean Daley, who was born…

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Alison Cranley: teacher and union leader.

August 7, 2020

Alison Cranley was a dedicated teacher and passionate union leader. Alison was born in the…

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Who was Bella Guerin?

July 24, 2020

Bella Guerin is best known as the first woman to graduate from an Australian university….

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Union campaigns for workplace health and safety

July 17, 2020

Throughout our history, Australian Unions have always campaigned against unsafe and unhealthy working conditions and…

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Unions and the shorter working week

July 9, 2020

Unions have always campaigned for working people’s right to a life outside of work to…

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When was Australia’s first nation-wide union meeting?

July 2, 2020

The first nation-wide meeting of unions in Australia took place in October 1879. It was…

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Emma Miller – remembering a union hero

June 25, 2020

  Today we remember the legendary union activist and leader Emma Miller, who was born…

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The 1969 Equal Pay case

June 16, 2020

  In June 1969 the long union campaign for equal pay for working women took…

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How unions won the right to annual leave

May 30, 2020

Annual leave can seem like a right that has always been around – but this…

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How unions helped create Medicare

May 29, 2020

The union movement has always campaigned for laws and policies that will protect the health…

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Remembering Bob Hawke

May 18, 2020

On the 16th of May 2020, we remember former Prime Minister and ACTU President, Bob…

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Muriel Heagney: champion of equal pay

May 14, 2020

Today we commemorate the life of Muriel Heagney, a union hero and long-term campaigner for…

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The 8 Hour Day

April 21, 2020

On 21 April in 1856, building workers in Melbourne took strike action and won the…

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