The history in general of Australia's
working-class economic struggle

Hartford Web Publishing is not the author of the documents in World History Archives and does not presume to validate their accuracy or authenticity nor to release their copyright.

The working-class history in general of Australia

The history of maritime workers in Australia
The history of miners in Australia

Update on Oz national union crisis

IGC News Desk, 18 November 1995. In this national dispute over union membershp rights the union movement has appointed a former PM and leader of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Bob Hawke, as its lead advocate in a dispute over union rights with a multinational resource company Conzinc Riotinto.

Industrial strife flares after federal election

By Joanne Painter, IGC LaborNews, 20 August 1996. Industrial disputes nationwide have soared since the Howard Government was elected. The strike action will almost certainly increase because workers in this country are very serious about retaining their dignity, their standard of living, their awards and the Industrial Relations Commission, as a minimum.

Angry union set to stay out until Shell freezes over

By Joanne Painter, IGC LaborNews, 20 August 1996. The Australian Workers Union threatened national industrial action in the oil industry if Shell Australia went ahead with plans to sue striking employees.

Melbourne public transport dispute continues

By Tully Bates, for IGC LaborNews, 16 March 1997. Public transport voted to strike from March 7 to 9 following breakdown of negotiations between public transport unions and the government. The Public Transport Union, Australian Services Union, Electrical Trades Union and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union have been attempting to negotiate with the Kennett government since the middle of 1996.

CEPU Strike

From Chris Floyd, CEPU, West Australia, 29 October 1997. The communication Electrical + Plumbing Union West Australia report to mail sorters who have a dispute with Australia Post. The dispute comes the Post's new industrial policy which excludes from negotiation the re-alignment rosters, working in dedicated teams, the use of casual labor and the proposal to reduce the number of Mail Sorters.

Unions gun for labour hire ring-ins

By Helen Trinca, extract from Sydney Morning Herald, 22 May 1999. The Australian Services Union is trying to strike agreements with labour hire firms for members it doesn't yet have. It is an alternative approach forced on unions in an age when they are struggling to recruit members from an increasingly fragmented labour market.

Sacked workers will lose $4m

By Natalie Davison, The Age, 29 January 2000. The NSW Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union says workers who were sacked when National Textiles folded will be short-changed $4 million of their redundancy entitlements and may have to wait up to two years for all their money. Culpable directors not accountable.