Union History Blog

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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