Union History Blog

The Gurindji strike, 1966

The Gurindji strike, 1966

August 16, 2023

The 1979 strike of the Union of Christmas Island Workers

The 1979 strike of the Union of Christmas Island Workers

August 1, 2023

60 years since the Yirrkala bark petition

60 years since the Yirrkala bark petition

July 27, 2023

Remembering Simon Crean

Remembering Simon Crean

June 29, 2023

Our Voice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander unionists making history

Our Voice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander unionists making history

June 27, 2023

An introduction to the Australian Living Peace Museum

An introduction to the Australian Living Peace Museum

May 24, 2023

The right to paid union training leave – a short history

The right to paid union training leave – a short history

The 1967 referendum

The 1967 referendum

Remembering the Pilbara Strike, 1946-1949

Remembering the Pilbara Strike, 1946-1949

April 27, 2023

Lessons from the campaign for the eight hour day

Lessons from the campaign for the eight hour day

April 24, 2023

Remembering William Cooper

Remembering William Cooper

March 23, 2023

Laurie Carmichael – a legendary unionist

Laurie Carmichael – a legendary unionist

July 26, 2022

60th Anniversary of the Labour History Society

60th Anniversary of the Labour History Society

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

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

June 22, 2022

Tribute to Tom McDonald: a lifetime winning for workers

Tribute to Tom McDonald: a lifetime winning for workers

May 24, 2022

The origins of May Day

The origins of May Day

April 27, 2022

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

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

April 14, 2022

MUA: Here to Stay! The 1998 Waterfront Dispute

MUA: Here to Stay! The 1998 Waterfront Dispute

April 1, 2022

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

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

March 30, 2022

Australian unions win maternity leave – 1979

Australian unions win maternity leave – 1979

March 7, 2022

Remembering Edna Ryan: Champion of Equality

Remembering Edna Ryan: Champion of Equality

February 9, 2022

The campaign for asbestos justice and workers’ compensation

The campaign for asbestos justice and workers’ compensation

February 7, 2022

How unions helped build Medicare

How unions helped build Medicare

January 30, 2022

1936 Maritime Strike by Torres Strait Islander Workers

1936 Maritime Strike by Torres Strait Islander Workers

January 12, 2022

The 1972 Equal Pay case

The 1972 Equal Pay case

December 10, 2021

The Metal Workers win the 38-hour week

The Metal Workers win the 38-hour week

December 7, 2021

“Pig Iron Bob” and the 1938 Port Kembla strike

“Pig Iron Bob” and the 1938 Port Kembla strike

November 11, 2021

The Harvester Judgement and the basic wage

The Harvester Judgement and the basic wage

November 4, 2021

Brian Manning: a life in the struggle

Brian Manning: a life in the struggle

November 2, 2021

Why Nelson Mandela thanked the Australian union movement

Why Nelson Mandela thanked the Australian union movement

October 25, 2021

The 1916 campaign against conscription

The 1916 campaign against conscription

October 13, 2021

Zelda D’Aprano’s Equal Pay protest

Zelda D’Aprano’s Equal Pay protest

West Gate Bridge collapse

West Gate Bridge collapse

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

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

September 28, 2021

Henry Lawson: the workers’ poet

Henry Lawson: the workers’ poet

The ACTU’s 1941 Equal Pay Conference

The ACTU’s 1941 Equal Pay Conference

Jennie George becomes the first woman elected ACTU President

Jennie George becomes the first woman elected ACTU President

How unions won the weekend

How unions won the weekend

September 7, 2021

A short history of unions taking action for equal pay!

A short history of unions taking action for equal pay!

August 31, 2021

Union solidarity with East Timor

Union solidarity with East Timor

August 27, 2021

The Gurindji strike, 1966

The Gurindji strike, 1966

August 20, 2021

Stories of Hope & Change: Muriel Heagney

Stories of Hope & Change: Muriel Heagney

August 17, 2021

1890 Maritime Strike

1890 Maritime Strike

August 12, 2021

The ACTU backs Noonkanbah protests

The ACTU backs Noonkanbah protests

From the archives – the ACTU’s 60th birthday

From the archives – the ACTU’s 60th birthday

July 26, 2021

1971 day of protest for retired workers

1971 day of protest for retired workers

July 20, 2021

The 1976 strike to defend universal healthcare

The 1976 strike to defend universal healthcare

July 9, 2021

Australia’s unions v. Frank Sinatra

Australia’s unions v. Frank Sinatra

The history of the minimum wage

The history of the minimum wage

June 30, 2021

The 1978 Mardi Gras

The 1978 Mardi Gras

June 18, 2021

How unions helped build Superannuation

How unions helped build Superannuation

The 1957 Palm Island strike

The 1957 Palm Island strike

June 9, 2021

The 1891 Shearers’ Strike

The 1891 Shearers’ Strike

May 20, 2021

Remembering Bob Hawke

Remembering Bob Hawke

May 12, 2021

Muriel Heagney’s 60 year campaign for Equal Pay

Muriel Heagney’s 60 year campaign for Equal Pay

Why do we celebrate May Day?

Why do we celebrate May Day?

April 28, 2021

1856: the Eight-Hour Day strike

1856: the Eight-Hour Day strike

April 21, 2021

MUA: Here to Stay!

MUA: Here to Stay!

April 7, 2021

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

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

March 11, 2021

The Engineering Union wins the 44 hour week – 1927

The Engineering Union wins the 44 hour week – 1927

February 23, 2021

The 1985 SEQEB dispute

The 1985 SEQEB dispute

February 10, 2021

Victory in the ASU’s campaign for Equal Pay

Victory in the ASU’s campaign for Equal Pay

January 28, 2021

1912 Brisbane general strike

1912 Brisbane general strike

January 20, 2021

The 1936 Maritime Strike by Torres Strait Islander workers

The 1936 Maritime Strike by Torres Strait Islander workers

January 12, 2021

The campaign for paid parental leave

The campaign for paid parental leave

January 7, 2021

The 1972 Equal Pay decision

The 1972 Equal Pay decision

December 15, 2020

Unions win the 38-hour work week

Unions win the 38-hour work week

December 7, 2020

The Eureka Stockade

The Eureka Stockade

December 2, 2020

Your Rights at Work victorious!

Your Rights at Work victorious!

November 24, 2020

Remembering Ted Grayndler

Remembering Ted Grayndler

October 9, 2020

Jennie George is elected ACTU President

Jennie George is elected ACTU President

September 28, 2020

Albert Monk: a lifetime of unionism

Albert Monk: a lifetime of unionism

September 14, 2020

Remembering Jean Daley

Remembering Jean Daley

August 24, 2020

Alison Cranley: teacher and union leader.

Alison Cranley: teacher and union leader.

August 7, 2020

Who was Bella Guerin?

Who was Bella Guerin?

July 24, 2020

Union campaigns for workplace health and safety

Union campaigns for workplace health and safety

July 17, 2020

Unions and the shorter working week

Unions and the shorter working week

July 9, 2020

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

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

July 2, 2020

Emma Miller – remembering a union hero

Emma Miller – remembering a union hero

June 25, 2020

The 1969 Equal Pay case

The 1969 Equal Pay case

June 16, 2020

How unions won the right to annual leave

How unions won the right to annual leave

May 30, 2020

How unions helped create Medicare

How unions helped create Medicare

May 29, 2020

Remembering Bob Hawke

Remembering Bob Hawke

May 18, 2020

Muriel Heagney: champion of equal pay

Muriel Heagney: champion of equal pay

May 14, 2020

The 8 Hour Day

April 21, 2020