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…
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…
How unions helped build Medicare
January 30, 2022
Medicare wouldn’t exist without the union movement. On 1 February 1984, Medicare came into operation. …
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…
The 1972 Equal Pay case
December 10, 2021
Today we celebrate an important milestone in the union campaign for gender equity: the 1972…
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…
“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’…
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,…
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…
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…