Union History Blog
Australian unions win maternity leave – 1979
March 7, 2022
Trade unions have a long and proud history of campaigning for parental leave to support…
‘Without bringing (Secure Jobs conversations) to the site level, it would just be white noise in workers everyday life’
Organiser Zac Gallagher from the Collieries’ Staff and Officials Association tells us how he has…
Telling our stories, speaking without fear
Powerful storyteller Dr John Falzon speaks on how to tell our Secure Jobs stories, how…
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…