THE MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE OF INDUSTRIAL. AND POLITICAL LA£OR IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Essay by Ly1a E11iott*

*Third Year Student, Edith Cowan University, 1994 THE MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE OF INDUSTRIAL AND POLITICAL LABOR IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

It was two o'clock in the afternoon on 11th April 1899, in Pearce's Athletic Hall in Bayley Street, C091gardie. . -- Mr. Hugh De Largie, presi?ent of the Amalgamated Workers' Association, called to order the 21 delegates who had assembled for the First West Australian Trades Union and Labor Congress. It was appropriate that he chair the Congress as it had been convened on his initiative "to bring all into line for common action." (1)

In addition to union delegates there were, among others, also delegates from the Kalgoorlie, Boulder and District Trades and Labor Council and the Perth Trades and Labor Council, which had been established earlier in the decade. The Congress sat for five days. The location of the Congress reflected th~ strength of the Trade Union Movement on the Goldfields. The miners, attracted to the area following the discovery of gold, were both numerous and active unionists.

In the Great Strikes of 1890 to 1894 the attempts of the trade unions to achieve justice for workers through industrial action had been defeated by the backing of employers by the Colonial Governments using the machinery of the State : the police, troops and the Courts. They came to the conclusion that if they were to be successful they would have to put their own representatives in Parliament. To achieve this they needed firstly a united Labor Movement and secondly to organise politically. - 2 -

It was this thinking that led to the Coolgardie Congress.

Chairman De Largie delivered what was described as a "terse and graphic speech" emphasising the importance of the task that lay ahead of them. (3)

The Congress adopted a platform covering electoral, industrial and taxation reform, mining and land legislation. It called for direct Labor representation by Labor men, a - , pledge from members ~o vote as the majority in Caucus assembled shall decide, and support for affiliation with the Australian Labor Federation. It agreed to a three-point fighting platform payment of members of Parliament, redistribution of seats on a population basis and a compulsory 'Arbitration Act, similar to that of New Zealand. On the adoption of a motion "That this Congress advocates the national ownership of all means of production and distribution for the equal benefit of all" the new President De Largie called for "Three cheers for socialism", which were heartily and enthusiastically given. (4)

The first major victory for the new Labor organisation was the passage of the first Conciliation and Arbitration legislation in Australia in December, 1900, along the lines of the New Zealand legislation. The Premier, Sir John Forrest, was facing a no-confidence motion by the Leader of the Opposition, Illingworth,at the time representatives of the Labor Movement had met him seeking such legislation. He promised to accede to their request if they could get the motion defeated, which they did, and he kept his word. (5)

The Second Trades Union and Labor Congress was held in Jacoby's Bohemia Hotel in Perth in 1900, the Third at the Trades Hall Kalgoorlie in 1901, and the Fourth at the Literary Institute Fremantle in 1902.

The Fourth Congress dealt extensively with selection, endorsement and principles governing Labor Members of Parliament. - 3 -

In a speech to the Congress, Henry Daglish, M.L.A., rejected its right to discipline Labor M.P.'s who he said were only answerable to electors. (6) However, the Congress decided that liAs the Parliamentary Labor Party is the outcome of organised Labor and Congress a duly constituted gathering of Union representatives, that it be a request to the P.L.P. to furnish through their leader a summary report of their proceedings from Congress to Congress." (7)

By 1904 political-Labor had been so successful that the first Labor Government was elected to office headed by Henry Daglish. The Ministry contained men who had played a part in the early Trades Union and Labor Congresses ­ Robert Hastie, W.D. Johnson, J.B. "Holman, T.H. Bath and P.J. Lynch.

What was to become known as "Labourism" was now under way in Western Australia : a movement of strong trade unions backed by political representatives who would achieve their objectives through parliamentary action.

Unfortunately, Daglish and his Ministry proved to be a great disappointment. Daglish resigned after only a year in office and subsequently served in the Wilson Liberal Ministry. However, a comprehensive constitution for the Labor Movement in W.A. evolved over several Congresses, including the Fifth in 1905, the month before Daglish's resignation. At the Sixth Congress held in Kalgoorlie in 1907 a constitution was adopted which was to provide the basic framework for the Movement for over half a century, subsuming the existing T.L.C.'s.

The supreme policymaking body was to be the General Council to meet triennially, an administrative Central Executive to meet monthly and seven (later nine) District Councils which were to play an important role in both political and industrial issues. Although the administration became political-industrial - 4 -

compared to the original industrial-political emphasis, all bodies were dominated by the affiliated trade unions. This meant union control of policy and selection of candidates for Parliament. The objects of the new organisation were : (a) To strengthen and consolidate the Labor Organisations throughout the state; (b) To confer upon all matters of general concern to wage earners; and (c) To promote and extend such legislative reforms as will sec~re justi~e to all. The organisation was give!"! the name liThe West Australian Division of the Australian Labor Federation. 1I (8). IIFederation ll was changed to IIParty ll at the Fourth General Council in 1919. (9)

Western Australia was the only state in which the Trade Union Movement chose to operate through a combined political and industrial organisation. By 1907 most of the other states had Trades and Labor Councils functioning separately from political Labor. The Tasmanian Council was established two years later.

It was in 1907, too, that the Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.) clubs were formed by the Socialist Labor Party of N.S.W. The early socialists were opposed to Labourism and industrial arbitration, seeing both as impeding the struggle for socialism. They wanted instead direct action through the industrial movement to attain the new socialist society. This was to be accomplished through the establishment of One Big Union (O.B.U.) as the parliament of the working class" and the use of general strikes. (10) The socialists' 'direct action' policies of that time failed to attract much support from unionists, the great majority of them preferring the concept of reform through Parliament rather than revolution. The appeal of socialism was to come later in the early 1920's.

By 1913 the mood of the Labor Movement in W.A. was happy, optimistic and united. Labor had been elected to office two years earlier. The Premier, John (Jack) Scaddan,had opened its new headquarters, the original Perth Trades Hall, the year before, and the war clouds of 1914 had not yet gathered. - 5 -

The Official Report of the General Council held that year records :

"Labor's Triennial Parliament assembled on Tuesday, July 1 under the happiest of auspices. The weather was ideal and the large gathering of Laborites from all parts of the state was naturally in the best of spirits. The gathering was undoubtedly the most important of its kind yet held in the state, the number of delegates present dwarfing the records of previous conferences •••• " - One hundred and ninety eight organisations representing 30,000 members sent delegates. The General Secretary, Alex McCallum, in his introduction to the Report, drew attention to the broad representative nature of the conference

"On this occasion almost every line of industry was represented from city mechanics of every trade to the 'dauntless pioneers' represented by the prospector and miner of the outback, the sturdy timberworker and the roving homeless shearer, the station hand and the boundary rider, the farmer and his labourer, the clerk and the shop assistant, the small businessman struggling against the power of the Trust, all classes of railway employees, and the unskilled toiler in almost every branch of indust~y. These comprised a formidable array of deadly earnest men bent upon doing their best for the uplifting of humanity.

"Congress had amongst its delegates the ardent single taxer, the land nationalist, the Temperance advocate and all classes of social reformers who realise that their one and only hope of bettering the conditions of the masses lies in the great Labor Movement••• " (11)

The years following the 1913 conference were not as happy as those preceding it. Within a year Australia was involved in the First World War. In 1916 Jack Scaddan resigned as Premier, later turning his back on Labor to serve in the Nationalist Mitchell Ministry. In 1917 a Special Conference was called to deal with the conscription issue which split the Party. Men who had been involved in the early formation of the Labor Movement had now placed themselves outside the Labor Party by joining W.M. (Billy) Hughes pro-conscription breakaway group. 6 -

These included George Pearce, Hugh De Largie and P.J. Lynch. (12)

The Fourth General Council held in 1919, as usual dealt with many industrial issues. Some of the items debated were compulsory arbitration, equal pay for the sexes, 40 hour week, women's hours, a minimum wage, holidays, superannuation and workers compensation, all of which although industrial required the attention of government. However the outstanding and most, time-consuming issue debated at the conference'"was the One Big Union. (13) . ".

Labor in office had introduced desirable social and industrial reforms, but workers and their unions were growing impatient with the pace of parliamentary reform:and with negotiation through the arbitration system. Industrial militancy was growing throughout the country, inflamed by such incidents as the death in 1919 of Tom Edwards, a Fremantle lumper, in a battle with police and strike breakers sent to the wharves by the Colebatch Government. (14). Many trade unionists began to acknowledge the need for the mobilisation of the working class through an industrial organisation if capitalism was ever to be defeated. The focus for this was the One Big Union. However, there was a divergence of opinion as to the methods to be employed once the organisation was set up. The Communist Party, established in Sydney in 1920 by prominent trade union officials who supported the O.B.U., favoured revolution. The Labor Party did not.

In 1921 two interstate conferences were held which were of importance to the Labor Movement. In Brisbane the Interstate A.L.P. Congress adopted as its objective the socialisation of industry, distribution and exchange and specified the methods by which it was to be achieved by the utilisation of constit­ utional industrial and parliamentary machinery. In Melbourne the All Australian Trade Union Congress also adopted a strategy to ach~eve the replacement of capitalism by socialism, but it talked about revolutionary action. The vehicle for this was to be One Big Union. It set up a Council of Action to work towards it. The next West Australian General Council in 1922 - 7 -

accepted both the socialist objective and "methods" adopted by the Brisbane conference and the Qne Big Union decisions of the Melbourne conference "so long as it did not conflict with the Party's policy of adhering to constitutional industrial and parliamentary machinery." In other words "revolutionary" action was excluded. (15)

The debate on the Q.B.U. highlighted the di~ference between the radicals who formed the Communist Party and the radicals in the Labor Party. Both wanted a socialist society to replace capitalism, but there was a fundamental difference in the method of achieving it. The Communists supported revolutionary means, Laborites wanted to use the constitutional machinery of Parliament and the arbitration system.

support for the Q.B.U. waned, due to a number of factors. These included opposition on the part of many unions, particularly the craft unions who saw it as a threat to them, the failure of the Council of Action to do anything useful and the strong support for Labourism in the Labor Movement. A Commonwealth Council of Federated Unions was established in 1923 by 32 Federal Unions who subscribed to Labourism, but its functions were limited and its dedication to replacing capitalism weak. The Communist supporters of the Q.B.U. still hoped to convince the trade unions that revolution was a preferable road to Labourism. The opportunity came in 1926 when the C.C.F.U. upset unionists by its support of the Bruce Government's anti-union referendum proposals. (16)

The Third All Australian Trade Union Congress condemned the C.C.F.U. for supporting the proposals and decided that "the time had now arrived when the workers needed to organise a central body which would be able to deal with all matters of industrial concern." It convened a Congress in 1927 for that purpose. The Australasian (later Australian) Council of Trade Unions was established at the 1927 Congress. (17) - 8 -

The Australian Workers Union branded the Congress "run by red wreckers" and refused to attend, but the socialist objective and methods adopted for the new body satisfied the Communists and others of the radical left. The irony was the A.C.T.U. became a moderate organisation whose leading officials also favoured a moderate line. The constitution allowed the power to remain with the Trades and Labor Councils which had to ratify policy decisions for them to become binding. The A.C:T.U.'s powers were li~~ted to international affairs, negotiations with the Federal Government, matters such as the basic wage and hours of work, and co-ordination of union activities in interstate disputes. It could not intrude into the state territory of Trades and,Labor Councils. (18) In 1930 the T.L.C.s in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia became State Branches of the A.C.T.U. There was no T.L.C. in Western Australia. (19).

Throughout the 1920's the Communist Party lost support and by 1928 its total membership was only 250. (20) However its support increased in the years of the Great Depression. Its membership in 1931 had grown to 1500 members and in 1934 to 3000. Through its industrial front the Militant Minority Mo~ment its influence among the trade unions began to grow and it began to win important positions in strategic industries. By 1939 Ernest Thornton was National Secretary of the Federated Ironworkers Association, Jim Healy was General Secretary of the Waterside Workers'Federation and Eliot V. Elliott was Federal Secretary of the Seamen's Union. (21)

During the Second World War Communist Party support rose sharply. By 1945 its membership had reached 22,000 and the number of Communists in official positions in trade unions had also risen considerably. These officials generally gained respect from union members because of their dedication and effectiveness as workers' representatives. When the war was over the Communist Party decided the conditions were right for it to assume leadership of the working class. At its 1947 Congress it declared the Party's main aim was "to uproot - 9 -

reformism and defeat and isolate it from the working class movement." The following year it attacked the Federal Labor Government as "an ally of those would would destroy the Soviet Union." (22) This was to be a significant factor in the initial resistance of both the A.C.T.U. leaders and the West Australian Trade Union Movement to the establishment of a separate Trades and Labor Council in W.A.

Although the West Australian Trades-and Labor Council . -. was not established until 1963 many attempts were made over the years for specialised industrial services within the Labor Movement to assist the unions. All seemed to come to nothing for one reason or another, mainly due to lack of funding. The first attempt of any importance was in 1926. A committee appointed by a conference of unions presented a proposal to the unions for the appointment of an advocate to represent them before the Arbitration Court and for the establishment of an Information Bureauoto assist them in their industrial work. The cost would be met by a levy of two pence per union member per month. (23).

In 1928 a lengthy and spirited debate took place at the Seventh General Council on the proposal. By then the proposed levy had been dropped to one penny per member per month or one shilling per annum. Most union delegates wanted the service but were not prepared to pay any levy for it. Some delegates suggested the General Secretary of the.A.LoP. or his staff should perform the work. It was pointed out by P.J. Mooney, who had at times acted as General Secretary, that the State Executive "staff" consisted of one part-time typist! The motion was defeated. (24)

By 1930 Australia was well into the Great Depression, and the hardship caused by unemployment was the major concern of the Labor Movement. In that year a conference_of trade unions was corivened by the General Secretary of the A.L.P. to discuss both unemployment and the establishment of an Industrial Officer - 10 -

and Bureau. The conference agreed an Industrial and Information Bureau should be established in charge of an officer of the Movement who would be fully qualified to conduct Arbitration and other industrial cases and requested the state Executive to appoint a special committee to draw up a report and recommendations to the next Triennial Congress. (25)

A Committee of 12 was appointed but could not agree on the csteps that should be taken to achieve the objective. The 1931 General Council debated at length a majority and a minority report, one of which in effect recommended the General Secretary perform the work and the other recommended the General Secretary's job be abolished and the money saved used to fund the Industrial Officer and an Industrial Bureau. While most delegates expressed support for industrial assistance they could not agree on the form it should take and certainly opposed any extra levies being imposed on the trade unions who were suffering a loss of income because of the Depression. The result was the conference rejected both reports, retaining the status quo. (26)

The same General Council debated the issue of affiliation with the Australian Coun6il of Trade Unions as a result of an item from the Timberworkers' Union calling for such a move. One delegate, O.E. Nilsson, said he had "attended the last conference of the A.C.ToU. in Sydney and had come to the conclusion that their constitution at present was of no use to the Movement. The conference that he had attended was a farce. It was not a conference of trade unions at all, as anybody could attend by simply saying he was a delegate from some place or other. The only question discussed was the question of a general strike••. " W.D. Johnson, on the other hand, "believed that the Australian Council of Trade Unions could be forged into something of great strength for the foundation of the Movement. The strength of the Movement was not political but industrial. They had advanced politically, but he was afraid they had regressed industrially." The suggestion of A.C.T.U. affiliation was rejected by the confer­ ence. (27) - 11 -

The proposal for an Industrial Advocate and Bureau continued to be raised at various times over the next two decades without success, mainly because of union reluctance to find the necessary funds. (28)

For the first half of the 1940's the unions, like everyone else in Australia, were involved in the war effort. Their attention was turned to dealing with Special National Security Regulations and Codes of Working Conditions for workers in the war industry. In the absence of a formal Trade Union Council in Western Australia the Secretaries of unions affiliated with the Labor Party met regularly, usually month1y,to discuss and formulate a collective opinion on industrial matters. The decisions were communicated to the State Executive A.L.P. for attention. (29)

with Labor in power in both Federal and State Parliaments there was close liaison between the Labor Movement and these governments. Regular meetings took place between the Party's Industrial Committee and the State's Minister for Labour. It may be to present the industrial decisions of the last General Councilor to discuss amend­ ments to legislation proposed either by the Government or the Labor Movement. Although the official communication took place between the Government and the General Secretary of the A.L.P. the unions played the major role in any negotiations because the Party's Industrial Committee was comprised mainly of trade unionists. (30)

It became practice for the General Secretary of the A.L.P. to prepare and present the case on behalf of affiliated unions before the Arbitration Court in State Basic Wage hearings. (31) He was also called upon to represent the unions collect- ively in other cases before the Court. (32)

A State Disputes Committee was elected annually along with the State Executive A.L.P. Officers and became activated when major disputes developed, often involving strike action. - 12 -

By and large the majority of unions in Western Australia accepted the constitutional structure of the Labor Movement. However, there were some who definitely did not and who wanted a separate industrial body quite independent of the A.L.P. In 1925 the party had adopted a pledge which had to be signed by all officers and delegates to A.L.P. bodies and which declared the signatory was not a member of any other political party, including the Communist Barty. . . Prior to that time the only pledge that was required to be signed was that by endorsed A.L.P. candidates for election to Parliament. The formation of the Communist Party in 1920 and its avowed policy of revolution as opposed to Labor's constitutional reform platform had caused Labor to ban Communists from its ranks. (33) This meant that Communist trade union officials could not serve as delegates on any Labor body, including meetings of affiliated unions. (34)

The exclusion of these trade union officials, plus growing militancy following the War, led to a number of unions meeting on 27th May, 1947 to discuss the formation of a Council of Trade Unions. The initiative carne from the Loco Drivers' Union, the Collie Miners' Union and the Waterside Workers' Federation, each of whom had recently been involved in industrial action to achieve a better deal for their members. The meeting decided to set up an independent industrial body. A committee was elected which included P.L. (Paddy) Troy, who was later to play a prominent role in the establishment of the W.A. Trades and Labor Council in 1963. The name given to the new organisation in 1947 was the West Australian Council of Trades Unions (W.A.C.T.U.) and it initially consisted of 15 unions. (35) One of its objects was to affiliate with the A.C.T.U. The W.A.C.T.U. application for affiliation was accepted by the 1947 A.C.T.U. Congress and the A.C.T.U. President, P.J. (Percy) Clarey and Secretary A.J. (Albert) Monk were instructed to visit W.A. for the purpose of giving effect to the decision. (36) - 13 -

The two officers did visit Western Australia as directed. However, following their examination of the situation, they decided that as the great majority of unions in W.A. were affiliated with the Australian Labor Party rather than the W.A.C.T.U., which by then had only eight unions involved, the question of the latter body becoming the State Branch of the A.C.T.U. should be reviewed. They were to return in November 1948 to invite the State Executive A.L.P. to become the affiliated body. (37)

During 1947 steps had also been taken in W.A. to establish an industrial council under the auspices of the A.L.P. The State Executive meeting held on 18th August, 1947 carried two resolutions :

" (i) .It is recommended to the state Executive, with a view to securing greater co-operation among industrial union~ that the meeting now being held on the second Tuesday in each month be styled 'The W.A. Trade Unions Industrial Council.'

"(ii) That the State Executive appoint a committee of five to draw up and recommend rules governing the operations of this Council."

The W.A. T.U.I.C. was to recommend the five names. (38)

The Committee established at the following state Executive meeting included G.W. (Gordon) Harris of the Waterside Workers' Federation who, like Paddy Troy, was to later play an active role in the formation of an independent Trades and Labor Council.

The proposed Rules and Constitution recommended by the Committee, after consideration and endorsement by both the W.A. T.U.I.C. and the State Executive A.L.p.,were presented to the General Council held later in 1947 and adopted. (39)

The full name of the Council was the "Western Australian Trade Unions Industrial Council (A.L.P. W.A. Branch). Its objects were: - 14 -

(a) To strengthen and consolidate the Industrial Section of the Labor Movement in Western Australia.

(b) To promote and establish complete co-operation and co-ordination on industrial matters between industrial organisations.

(c) To assist by collective consultation and action in securing improvements in the working conditions of all workers.

It was composed Qf-'representatives of unions affiliated with the A.L.P., who were required to not only be an officer or member of his or her union, but also of the A.L.P. and to sign the pledge of the Party. The powers of the Council were as follows :

"The Council shall, under the State Executive of the Australian Labor Party, have control in respect to Industrial matters of a collective nature, including awards, industrial agreements and standard conditions affecting workers being members of industrial Unions affiliated with the W.A. Division of the Australian Labor Party -

(a) provided that,such control shall not interfere with the autonomy of industrial unions or District Councils, except as provided in sub-clause (e) of this rule.

(b) provided also that industrial matters requiring enactment of industrial legislation shall be examined by the Council, which may make recommendations to the State Executive of the Australian Labor Party (W.A.) with a view to implementation through the respective Branches of the Parliamentary Labor Party, Federal Executive A.L.P.

The Council shall have the right to :

(a) Forward and receive correspondence directed to that body.

(b) Have power to make collective decisions in respect to industrial matters relating to awards, agreements, standard conditions, etc.

(c) Appoint required advocate~ to appear on behalf of affiliated unions in respect to industrial matters including the basic wage hearing, etc. - 15 -

(d) To deal with industrial matters of a State-wide character, or extending over an area comprising that of two or more District Councils, and any industrial matter not dealt with by District Councils.

(e) To lay down certain minimum standard conditions to be incorporated in awards and industrial agreements as being sought by Unions from time to time.

(f) To make recommendations through the State Executive to District Councils on matters affecting.±ndustrial , , organisation_in country areas and those sections of the State who "are affiliated with the State Executive.

(g) To recommend to the State Executive a nominee or nominees to be delegate to represent the Party at industrial conferences, State or inter-State.

(h) The establishment of an Industrial Advisory body to

(i) Advise, through the State Executive, the political section of the Party as to what Industrial legislation is necessary to meet the changing industrial situation.

(ii) To advise on the operations of the industrial bureau and reference library.

(iii) To assist industrial unions with advice on industrial matters when in need of same.

(iv) To give the full support of the industrial movement on any industrial matter to any union or unions which is in the opinion of the Council in need of same.

(v) To assist when necessary in the prevention or settlement of industrial disputes." (40)

The first meeting of the newly constituted W.A. T.U.I.C. was held on 13th January, 1948. The records of the State Executive A.L.P. for that year reveal the type of relationship that existed between the trade union movement and the Labor Party's two political and industrial bodies at the time. Meetings of the W.A. T.U.I.C. dealt with a wide range of issues and its officers took part in important meetings and deputations. However, it was an integral part of the Labor administrative structure, rather than a body with autonomous - 16 -

powers. Its decision making could be overruled by the state Executive and significant appointments to outside bodies were still made by the state Executive, albeit often on the Council's recommendation. (42)

The state Disputes Committee was still elected annually with the state Executive Officers, and continued to handle industrial disputes where necessary, usually with a fair,degree of success. (43)

The rule barring union delegates who belonged to another political party was applied rigorously. Within a few weeks of the first meeting of the W.A. T.U.I.C. Ron Hurd, Secretary of the Seamen's Union, was informed he could not attend meetings of the Councilor any meetings held under the auspices of the state Executive because he was "an avowed member of the Communist Party." (44)

It was not surprising that the A.L.P. regarded the Communist Party and its members as an enemy to be treated with the same hostility as that shown to the conservatives. That party, after all, had attacked the A.L.P. and Labor Governments and was successfully replacing Labor trade union officials with its own members.

Another reaction to the developing influence of Communist Party members in the trade unions in the 1940's was the establishment of a secret right wing organisation called the Catholic Social Studies Movement, which became known as "the Movement". The Movement was founded by B.A. Santamaria with some Labor support and initially sponsored and financed by the Catholic Church, but later banned by the Vatican. It formed Industrial Groups to fight Communists in union elections. The methods of operation adopted by the "Groupers" proved to be a far greater threat to the democratic processes of the Labor Movement than the Communist Party and eventually split both the Labor Party and the Catholic Church in the 1950's. (45) ~ 17 ~

However, in the 1940 ls suspicion of Communists was still strong and it has been suggested as one of the reasons why the A.C.T.U. leaders were reluctant to support the case of the W.A.C.T.U. for recognition as the West Australian Branch. Because prominent Communists like Paddy Troy were' associated with its formation they feared the delegates from W.A. to the Interstate Executive would follow that Party's line. (46)

By the end of 1948 the A.L.P. in W.A. had the Trade Unions Industrial Council functioning effectively and so in November the A.C.T.U. President Percy Clarey and Secretary Albert Monk visited ,the State and met firstly the State Executive Officers and then the State Executive.

Clarey is recorded in the minutes as saying to the Executive Officers :

"In the dying hour of the 1947 A.C.T.U. Congress a decision was made by which Mr. Monk and myself were directed to come to West Australia at the earliest opportunity for the purpose of forming a Branch of the A.C.T.U. It was suggested somewhat vaguely that the W.A.C.T.U. were to be the Branch of the A.C.T.U. and because it was the dying hour of Congress it was not debated at length••• He had no doubt that the actual terms of the resolution carried was not intended to be a direction to them to make the ~~.A.C.T.U. a Branch of the A.C.T.U. and the interpretation of the Congress decision had been accepted by the full execut­ ive of the A.C.T.U. In accordance, therefore, with the decision; the Executive expected them to set up a Branch in this State, and if a Branch should be set up it should follow the same form and pattern as conforms to the rules applying in Western Australia and they further requested strongly the State Executive to become the Branch."

The A.C.T.U. President also stressed the A.C.T.U. could not interfere with the internal arrangements in Western Australia. He saw nothing inconsistent with the existing arrangements in W.A. and the proposed association_with the A.C.T.D.

Albert Monk is recorded as saying - 18 -

"He hoped the State Executive A.L.P. in this state with its industrial background and prestige and its great numerical strength would become a Branch of the A.C.T.U. and make its contribution to federal industrialism because it was required in these days more than ever. II ( 47)

In response to an invitation to District Councils and the W.A. Trade Unions Industrial Council to consider the matter of A.C.T.U. affiliation, the latter body requested that it become the W.A. Branch of the A.C.T.U. This was rejected by the State Executive, which decided to recommend to the forthcoming General Council that the State Executive A.L.P. be the body to affiliate. (48)

The General Council held in August 1949 was addressed by both Clarey and Monk. In reply to a question from delegate R.C. Cole as to whether the A.C.T.U. could accept the affiliation of a political party, the A.C.T.U. President replied: "In this state you have one central control of both the political and industrial sides of the Movement. You have set up this machinery yourselves. Therefore the A.C.T.U. has no altern­ ative but to accept such affiliation. Our object is to preserve unity." When asked whether the W.A. T.U.I.C. should be the representative body of the A.C.T.U., Clarey replied "That is a question of internal organisation for your local determination ••.•we would not interfere with the functions of a Branch of the A.C.T.U." The conference decided to affiliate on this basis and this was effected at the 1949 A.C.T.U. Congress. (49)

The A.L.P. General Council in 1949 also decided to change the previous practice of union affiliation fees being paid through District Councils. Instead, in future, they would be paid direct to the state Executive of which four­ ninths would be directed to District Councils and of the remaining five-ninths, three-ninths would be set aside "for industrial purposes." When the W.A. T.U.I.C. was established it was intended that an Industrial Bureau and Reference Library for unions would be set up with a paid industrial officer. A great deal of time and effort was devoted to achieving this 19 -

objective by the state Executive, T.U.I.C. and General Council, but despite the best of suggestions and intentions, the whole matter was shelved through lack of financial support by the unions. In fact, there were so many problems for the Party in respect to union arrears that annual affiliation fees were reduced in 1953. (50)

It was the same Special General Council in 1953 that . gave. the T.U.ToC. more powers. The following decisions were reached :

II (a) The Councils powers of 'recommendation 'be changed to 'determination', subject to the right of any union to appeal to the State Executive against a decision of the Council.

II (b) The T.U.I.C. to have direct representation on the State Executive by two delegates.

"(c) The T.U.I.C. to have the right to elect one of the two delegates from the State to the A.C.T.U. Interstate Executive.

II (d) The Officers of the T.U.I.C. and the President and Secretary of the Party to comprise the Industrial Committee to consult with the State Parliamentary Labor Party on all industrial matters requiring legislative attention.

II (e) The monthly meetings to be held at nighttime." (51)

When it became evident that lack of funding would prevent the establishment of an Industrial Bureau and the employment of an Industrial Officer, the General Secretary of the A.L.P. was required to take on the responsibilities of Secretary of the T.U.I.C. in addition to his other duties. He continued as advocate for affiliated unions before the Arbitration Court in Basic Wage hearings and served on the Industrial Committee and the State Disputes Committee. F.E. (Joe) Chamberlain became the General Secretary of the Party on 11th July 1949 replacing T.G. (Tom) Davies, who was appointed Workers' Representative on the Arbitration Court Bench on 28th April 1949. (52) - 20 -

Although the set-up fell short of the services that would be available under a separate industrial body, the unions enjoyed a close relationship with the Hawke Labor Government in the 1950's. The Industrial Committee was constantly conferring with Government Ministers, particularly the Minister for Labour, on all industrial matters. "The Government did not move until it knew the attitude of the Trade Unions Industrial Council through the Committee." (53)

The 1953 General Council decision giving the T.U.I.C. powers of determination was interpreted by the state Executive to mean "all" industrial questions, including those from the A.C.T.U. Interstate Executive requiring attention. In 1956 an A.B.C. news bulletin carried the following story about the West Australian Labor Movement's handling of an A.C.T.U. proposal for a nationwide stoppage. It was to be a protest against the freezing of cost-of-living adjustments to the Basic Wage under Federal Awards since 1953.

"The proposed 24 hour nationwide stoppage on November 15th will not now take place.

"W.A.'s deciding vote ratified by the state A.L.P. Executive in Perth last night has opposed the stoppage. A special meeting of the Executive discussed for three hours whether or not the T.U.I.C. 's authority in industrial matters included matters referred by the A.C.T.U.

"It was d~cided finally by 42 votes to 23 that the TeU.I.C.'S authority in industrial matters given to it by the West Australian A.L.P. Congress in October, 1953, had no limits. Hence the T.U.I.C. 's decision not to support the proposed 24 hour stoppage became the official West Australian decision and nullified the West Australian Executive's original decision to support the stoppage••••• " (54)

While the major administrative body of the ~abor Movement in W.Ae was the State Executive, there was no question that the overwhelming control of both political and industrial policies was in the hands of the unions, whether it was on the District Councils, the State Executive or the General Council. The composition of the State Executive in 1956 showed that Of - 21 -

the 73 delegates from District Councils, 55 were unionists and only 18 were A.L.P. Branch members. (55) In 1957 it was estimated that the relative strength of unions and A.L.P. Branches at the forthcoming General Council would be :

73 unions represented by 121 delegates with 715 votes 55 branches represented by 52 delegates with 55 votes. (56)

However, there was. growing discontent in the Trade Union Movement among those who wanted a completely separate industrial organisation, mainly coming from some Federal Unions and members of other political parties who were barred from the T.U.I.C., or unions who were denied affiliation because their chief officials belonged to other political parties. As a result a number of items had appeared on the 1957 A.C.T.U. Congress agenda calling upon the A.C.T.U. to set up a separate Trades and Labor Council in Western Australia. That Congress directed the A.L.P. in W.A. to convene a conference of all unions, including those unaffiliated,to discuss the matter and said representation at the conference would be determined by the organisations concerned. In other words persons could be delegates irrespective of whether they were members of the A.L.P. or not. (57)

Joe Chamberlain, with the backing of the W.A. T.U.I.C. and the State Executive A.L.P., strongly objected to the proposal. Firstly, he said, W.A. had been assured that the A.C.T.U. did not interfere in the internal affairs of a state Branch. Secondly, it was quite wrong that organisations that had not contributed either financially or otherwise to the Labor Movement should have the same rights at a conference as affiliated unions. Of 20 unaffiliated unions in W.A. only four had been excluded for political reasons because their chief executive officers were members of a political party opposed to the A.L.P. He did, however, give an undertaking that unaffiliated unions would be given the opportunity to place their views in writing to a Special Unions Conference. He also said Rule 8 refusing affiliation to unions with officials belonging to other political parties would be reviewed. The A.C.T.U. Interstate Executive accepted this. (58) - 22 -

A Special Unions Conference took place in Perth on 10th December, 1957. Only six unaffiliated unions bothered to reply to the invitation to them to submit a view. Although only a General Council of the A.L.P. could alter the Rules and Constitution, it was decided that a decision should first be made by the unions, with no political delegates present. It was also decided to allow those who favoured a separate Trades and Labor Council the privilege of moving accordingly, which would also give them.the advantage of a right of reply to the debate. Gordon Harris of the Waterside Workers' Federation who had long been an advocate for a separate T.L.C. moved :

"That this conference of affiliated industrial unions in W.A. favours the setting up of a Trades and Labour Council to function upon a similar basis to those in the other States."

R.W. (Bob) Fletcher of the Electrical Trades Union moved an amendment, which was a recommendation endorsed by the State Executive and T.U.I.C. :

"That this conference of affiliated industrial unions in Western Australia agrees to the affiliation of the W.A. Trade Unions Industrial Council with the A.C.T.U., with the State Executive A.L.P. completely excluded from any such proposed affiliation."

The amendment was overwhelmingly carried on a card vote 497 for 203 against. The subsequent Special General Council held on 25th February, 1958 endorsed the decision and also amended Rule 8. This now opened the way for affiliation for the four unions which had been previously denied it because of Communist officials : the Shipwrights, Ship Painters and Dockers, Collie Miners and Seamen. (59)

The lifting of restrictions against unions headed by members of other political parties did not extend to delegates to the T.U.I.C. In 1958 the Communists were no longer regarded as the only threat to the Labor Movement. They were now joined by those on the extreme Right represented by the "Groupers", who had wrought such havoc within the Labor Party and the unions in the 1950's. Therefore Communists and members of the D.L.P. - 23 -

who were synonymous with IiGroupersli were still banned from the T.U.I.C. as delegates.

It was ironic that these two extremes in the political spectrum were to join forces at the next A.C.TeU. Congress to achieve a separate Trades and Labor Council in W.A.

-At the A.C.T.U. Interstate Executive meeting on 3rd June, 1959, Joe Chamberlain reported on the steps taken in W.A. and moved the following recommendation for submission to the next Congress :

"This Executive recommends to Congress that the W.A. Trade Union Movement be affiliated with the A.C.T.U. on the basis of decisions reached by the Special Conference of Unions and the Special state Congress in Western Australia, namely 'That the West Australian Industrial Council be affiliated with the A.C.T.U. with the State Executive A.L.P e completely excluded from such affiliation. I Further, Congress points out that although progress has been made in W.A. towards full implementation of the A.CoT.Ue principle of industrial organisation, it has not yet been reached, but is being pursued. "

Jim Healy of the Waterside Workers Federation, also a member of the A.C.TeU. Interstate Executive, moved an amendment

"This Executive, having heard the report of the Western Australian Industrial Council, notes that the rules of the W.A. Division of the A.L.P. have been altered to enable all unions to affiliate to the W.A. Industrial Council. We therefore recommend that affiliation of the W.Ae A.L.P. be transferred to the W.A. Industrial Council. While recommending acceptance of the situation at present existing in W.A., we do so in the hope that efforts will continue to organise the Trade Union Movement in that State on a basis identical to industrial organisations approved by the A.C.T.U. 1i

The motion moved by Chamberlain was carried, but he strongly argued that the amendment was so close to the motion that had it been adopted it would have virtually said the same thing. This, he said, indicated a fair degree of unanimity on the part of the Interstate Executive in respect to the Western - 24 -

Australian position at that time. (60) However, when Chamberlain moved the Interstate Executive recommendation at the A.C.T.U. Congress on 31st August, 1959, seconded by Albert Monk, Healy moved an amendment which, according to Chamberlain, was a complete repudiation of his attitude at the Interstate Executive. It read :

"This Congress directs that the Branch of the Australian Council of Trade Unions in W.A. shall carry out fully the democratic principles of affiliation on which the A.C.T.U. itself and its other five branches operate, i.e. that affiliation shall be open to any bona fide registered trade union within the state or any Branch of a Federal Union operating within the state. Further that each affiliated union shall be allowed, without any political restriction to be represented on the Industrial Council by such member or members of that union as it may decide in accordance with its rules."

The amendment had deleted the provision for affiliation of the W.A. T.U.I.C. and had wrongly implied certain unions were still denied affiliation. In support of this he produced a letter signed by 12 unaffiliated West Australian Unions which supported the formation of a separate T.L.C., indicating the unions concerned had been excluded for political reasons.

Chamberlain denied this, The unions named were, in the main, a group of small unions which had never participated in the Labor Movement mainly because of their poor financial situation. They had never been excluded for political reasons.

The A.C.T.U. Congress carried the Healy amendment with the Communists, Groupers and Federal Unions combining. In view of the rejection of the motion, the President, Monk, ruled that the status quo remained in respect to West Australian affiliation, namely the State Executive A.L.P. was still the affiliated body instead of the W.A. T.U.I.C. and it was for the former body to give consideration to the resolution carried and determine its attitude to same. (61) - 25 -

On Joe Chamberlain's return to Perth he was interviewed at Perth Airport by a West Australian reporter on the A.C.T.U. Congress. The paper the next day carried an item under the heading "Chief of A.L.P. Rebuffed by Unions"

" •••At Perth Airport last night Mr. Chamberlain said that the decisions of Congress had been reached largely as a result of collusion between the Communist Party and the Democratic Labor Party. 'Alt~ough these two parties are supposed to be the antithesis of each other they share-a common aim - the weakening of the A.L.P.' he said 'and the W.A. Branch of the A.L.P. must obviously be weakened by any attempt to set up a Trades and Labor Council here.'" (62)

Although theirs was a minority view in the.W.A. Trade Union Movement, Joe Chamberlain understood and respected the attempts of the Federal Unions to achieve a separate Trades and Labor Council. He did not extend the same respect and understanding to those of the extreme left or extreme right, who constantly attacked political Labor and damaged its prospects of governing.

Two weeks after the A.C.T.U. Congress, Paddy Troy wrote to him seeking a meeting with officers of the state Executive to discuss the implementation of the Congress decision. A Committee of three had been chosen by a meeting of unions for this purpose. They were P.L. Troy (Ship Painters' and Dockers' Union), R. Sawyer (Federated Clerks' Union) and G.C. Cahill (Boilermakers Union). Chamberlain found the collaboration of Sawyer (D.L.P.)with Troy (Communist) particularly galling in view of the prominent part played by Sawyer in the election campaign earlier that year which saw the defeat of the Hawke Labor Government. The D.L.P. had indulged in its usual propaganda accusing the A.L.P. of being pro-communist. On behalf of the State Executive Officers Chamberlain replied to Troy, declining to meet the trio, pointing out that the question was one for consideration by the W.A. Branch of the A.L.P. and the State Executive, which was the chief administrative authority of the Branch,was considering the matter in accordance with the Rules and Constitution of that body. , (63) - 26 -

The State Executive A.L.P. decided to give the unions a further opportunity to determine the question one way or the other, and so another Special Unions Conference was convened for the 23rd November 1959 to be followed by a Special General Council two days later. The Special Conference showed once again that the majority of unions in W.A. were not yet ready for a separate Trades and Labor Council. There were those who had consistently supported the conce~t over a long period, like Jim ~ite (Painters' Union), Tom Henley (Carpenters & Joiners' Union), Jim McMullan (Amalgamated Engineering Union), Harry Curran (Waterside Workers' Federation) and Gordon Cahill (Boilerkakers'Union). These men spoke strongly in support. Gordon Harris (Waterside Workers' Federation) was once again given the task of endeavouring to achieve the change desired. He moved

"That this Conference of Unions declares its whole­ hearted support for the decision taken at the 1959 A.C.T.U. Congress in the matter of the organisation of the A.C.T.U. Branch in W.A ••••Having regard for the organisational problems involved,Conference declares that this decision shall be fully implemented by July 1st 1960"

This was ultimately lost on a show of hands 32 for 71 against. An amendment rewording the motion but containing essentially the same principles,except to add that a separate Trades and Labor Council be established, had previously been lost on a card vote 206 for 555 against. (64) •

A report in the West Australian of 25th November about the Conference quoted Gordon Harris as saying :

"The interests of unionists were being poorly served through A.L.P. dominance in the Trade Union Industrial Council. In times of industrial trouble unions had to water down their views and step warily to avoid creating political embarrassment to the Party, which could cost vital votes to W.A. A.L.P. candidates in State and Federal elections." (65) - 27 -

The Special General Council which followed resolved to "endorse the decision of the Special Af liated Unions Conference held 23rd and 24th November, 1959, namely that there shall be no alteration to the existing political and industrial organisation in W.A."

The General Secretary in his report to conference drew'attention to the fact that it was onlian A.L.P~ General Council which had theconstltutional authority to change the rules and organisational structure of the Labor Movement, and this included the relationship with the A.C.T.U. That body had every right to withdraw affiliation if a State's constitution was not acceptable to it, but it had no moral or constitutional right to direct it. It was for the Trade Union Movement in W.A. to decide when change should take place. This would happen when the minority represented by 206 votes was able to convince the majority represented by 555 votes that a separate Trades and Labor Council divorced from the A.L.P. should be established. (66)

In April of the following year there was a surprising development in the saga of the W.A. - A.C.T.U. relationship. Negotiations had taken place between the officers of the A.C.T.U. and those of the State Executive on a way to meet the requirements of the 1959 A.C.T.U. Congress decision while respecting the autonomy of the W.A. Trade Union Movement and the majority decisions reached by the State in 1957 and 1959. On 4th April the A.C.T.U. President Albert Monk, Senior Vice-President J.D. Kenny and Secretary Harold Souter met the officers of the W.A. State Executive and had unanimously agreed on the following recommendations to be placed before the State Executive meeting that night :

II (i) The General Secretary report;

(ii) The President of the A.C.T.D. A. Monk address the meeting; - 28 -

n(iii) That in view of the opinion of the A.C.T.U. Interstate Executive that the decision of the 1959 A.C.T.U. Congress does not direct W.A. to establish a separate Trades and Labor Council, we recormnend the calling of a Special Affiliated Union Conference to be followed by a Special General Council meeting for the purpose of ascertaining the attitude of the affiliated Union Movement to the following recormnendation 'That the necessary amendments to Rules be authorised to remove the present restrictions imposed upon affiliated unions in respect to the credentialling of union delegates to the Trade Unions Industrial Council.'

n (iv) That the proposed conferences be further called upon to reaffirm the 1957 decision, namely that the T.U.I.C. become the body to be affiliated with the A.C.T.U. in place of the State Executive.

n (v) That the officers be instructed to select the earliest possible date for the holding of the proposed special conferences.

Following Joe Chamberlain's report to the Executive, Albert Monk addressed delegates. He said in his opinion "the decision of the A.C.T.U. Congress in 1959 did not require the establishment of a separate Trades and Labor Council in W.A. His int~~pretation was that it required two specific things to be done, (1) that all unions should be permitted,if they so desire, to become affiliated with the West Australian Branch of the A.L.P • and (2) that all unions when affiliated should have the right to credential delegates to the T.U.I.C. without restrictions related to political belief. He was aware that the first requirement of the A.C.T.U. had been met in 19570 when the Special Conference had amended Rule 8. This only then left the second question. The recormnendationof the State Executive officers, if adopted, would remove this restriction and as a consequence the requirements of the A.C.T.U. Congress decision of 1959 would be fully met. This was not merely his view but the view of the InterState Executive of the A.C.T.U. n

Recormnendation (iii) was then placed before the State Executive and, contrary to expectations, met with strong opposition from unionists like Gordon Harris, Jim White and Tom Henley. - 29

Chamberlain was surprised and angry He told the state Executive that "the State Executive Officers had unanimously agreed to co-operate with the A.C.T.U. Interstate Executive with a view to closing the ranks in this State, and were of the opinion when they agreed to the recommendation that it would be fully supported by those who for so long had been making much capital out of the very situation which the recommendation sought to adjust. In view of the violent opposition now coming from this- section of the Executive, it was his opinion that it would be completely without profit to argue that a conference should be held if the opposition expressed tonight would be further expressed at the conference. In these circumstances he felt he had no alternative but to request the State Executive to now reject the recommendation."

The recommendation was rejected on a show of hands 10 in favour 52 against. The Executive then carried a motion moved by CeH. (Harry) Webb and seconded by Jim White ..

"That the A.C.T.U. be advised that this Branch is unable to comply with the decision of the A.C.T.U. Congress which involves the alteration of the rules of this Branch." (67)

There the matter rested for six months until Paddy Troy's union, the Ship Painters and Dockers, sent an item forward to the State Executive through the Fremantle District Council requesting that the State Executive officers resubmit the recommendations jointly made by the A.C.T.U. Executive officers and themselves to the meeting of the State Executive of 4th April 1960 to an early meeting of the State Executive, and the President of the A.C.T.U. be invited to attend. The State Executive Officers agreed to recommend to the Executive that the request be adopted. However when the item came before the State Executive the Chairman realised it did not comply with Standing Orders as the previous decision would have to be rescinded. Notice was then given by delegate R.W. (Ray) Clohessy of the Carpenters and Joiners Union that he would move to rescind the decision reached on 4th April at the following meeting. His rescission motion was carried' at the meeting held on 12th December. A motion moved by him - 30 -

along the lines of that defeated on 4th April was adjourned to enable the state Executive Officers to give further consideration to the matter and to consult the A.C.T.U. President Monk. (68)

The adjourned motion was before the state Executive on 17th July, 1961, which was attended by Albert Monk. Monk reiterated his earlier statement that he had interpreted the A.C.T.U. Congress decision to mean that there was only one issue before the W.A. Branch for attention, namely the lifting of political restrictions on delegates to the T.U.I.C. This interpretation had been unanimously endorsed by the Interstate Executive of the A.C.T~U. Following Monk's address, Joe Chamberlain moved as an amendment to Ray Clohessy's motion a recommendation agreed to with Monk at the officers' meeting

"That the state Executive convene a Special Affiliated Unions eonference to be followed by a Special General Council for the purpose of determining the future relationship of the West Australian Trade Union Movement with the A.C.T.U., and in particular to consider the A.C.T.U. Congress decision of 1959, namely that the rules of the Industrial Council be amended to provide that each affiliated union shall be allowed, without political restriction, to be represented on the Industrial Council by such member or members of that union as it may decide in accordance with its rules."

The amendment was carried by the Executive. (69)

A month later, on 21st August, the state Executive officers placed a recommendation before the Executive to cover the situation should the Special Conference fail to agree to the state Executive proposal to comply with the A.C.T.U. requirement. Because the unions and the A.L.P. had over­ whelmingly rejected the A.C.T.U. Congress directives previously, there was every possibility that this could happen again. Joe Chamberlain and others knew this could have disastrous consequences for the unity of the Trade Union Movement with a possible split - 31 -

developing between state and Federal unions. Rather than have this happen, it would be preferable to put in place some machinery to plan for the ultimate establishment of a separate industrial organisation in an orderly way with the least possible damage to the political wing of the Labor Movement. The following recommendation was intended to cover this situation :

"That in the even~ of the Special Conference: rejecting the A.C.T.U. Congress decision to provide for the credentialling of delegates who are unable to sign the A.L.P. Pledge, the following recommendation be placed before Conference :

'That the A.C.T.U•.be informed that it is the opinion of this Conference that every effort should be made to avoid a serious division in the Labor Movement of W.A. To this end, we urge the establishment of a Committee representative of the A.C.T.U., the State Executive of the A.L.P. and the T.U.I.C. for the purpose of examining the manner and period of time in which a separate industrial organisation can be established in this State. The proposed separate industrial organisation shall be of a nature which shall receive the approval of the A.C.T.U. In examining the structure of the proposed separate industrial body, the Committee shall have proper regard for the maintenance of an effective A.L.P. political organisation, and all necessary safe~ guards shall be approved to ensure that result. I"

This apparently still did not satisfy the protagonists

1'~ for the separate Trades and Labor Council, because Tom Henley moved the following amendment to the recommendation :

" (i) The State Executive regrets that it cannot give effect to the direction of the 1959 Congress

" (ii) The State Executive is of the opinion that the only solution to the problem of A.C.T.U. organ­ isation in Western Australia is the formation of a Trades and Labor Council.

U(iii) That in the circumstances, the State Executive is of the opinion that the A.C.T.U~ officers should come to Western Australia for the purpose of giving such assistance as in their opinion may be necessary for the establishment of a Trades and Labor Council - 32 " (iv) That consequent upon the establishment of a Trades and Labor Council in W.A., the State Executive will voluntarily relinquish its affiliation as the State Branch of the A.C.T.U. in Western Australia.

" (v) That in order that serious division in the Labor Movement of W.A. may be avoided, the State Executive confidently appeals to all concerned to have due regard to the organisational problems involved for the A.L.P. in W.A. during the change­ over period."

Joe Chamberlain was absent from the meeting, attending a Federal Executive 'A.L.P. meeting interstate, and therefore unable to debate the amendment which was carried. (70)

There were seven days to the Special Unions Conference, and during this time there was feverish activity centred around those who favoured the recommendation as the way to go and those who favoured Torn Henley's proposition. By now, it seemed the major players had all accepted that a separate industrial body was inevitable, it was just that those who had been campaigning for one for years were growing impatient.

The Special Unions Conference heard long addresses by Joe Chamberlain and Torn Henley, following which the latter moved a proposal - more to test the feelings of Conference rather than one he subscribed to at that stage :

"That this Conference of Un10ns affiliated to the A.L.P. W.A. Branch endorses the decision of the A.C.T.U. (1959) Congress in the matter of the A.C.T.U. organisation in W.A. 'that such affiliated unions shall be allowed without any political restriction to be represented on the Industrial Council by such member or members of that union as it may decide in accordance with its rules'. Accordingly Conference requests today's Special General Council to amend such of the rules of the Party including the T.U.I.C. rules as will enable the above decision to be fully implemented."

The motion was lost, whereupon I. McQuade of the Loco brivers' Union moved as a motion the recommendation of the officers to the State Executive meeting of 21st August, and Gordon Harris moved as an amendment the proposal successfully moved by Torn Henley at the State Executive meeting of the same date. - 33 -

The conference rejected the Harris amendment and carried the McQuade motion. At a Special General Council held later in the day, Joe Chamberlain moved adoption of the decision of the Special Unions Conference, which was carried without debate. (71)

So the countdown had begun for what had become inevitable: the establishment of a Trades and Labor Council in Western Australia divorced from politica~ Labor.

Although the Labor Party was still suffering from the split of 1955 and the electoral damage wrought by the D.L.P. support of conservative governments, it was on the road back. It was beginning to win back Federal seats all over Australia which it had lost during the 1950's, including the seats of Stirling and Kalgoorlie in W.A. The irony was, after the years of battling the extreme right, it was the preferences of a Communist candidate in Queensland which put a Liberal, Jim Killen, into the House of Representatives and robbed Labor of government in Canberra.in 1961.

However, despite the animosity between Labor and members of the Communist Party and D.L.P., opinion in the Labor Movement in W.A. had shifted to support for an independent industrial body similar to those in other States on which union members of any political allegiance could serve.

An enormous task confronted the joint committee set up by the 1961 Special General Council. It had to provide recommendations for a comprehensive plan which would fundamentally change the administrative structure that had served the West Australian Labor Movement for over half a century. This meant :

- rewriting the whole of the Constitution and Rules;

- ensuring adequate finance to support the Trades and Labor Council in addition to the Labor Party;

disbanding the nine District Councils;

- replacing the District Councils with some other form 34 -

of regional organisation without the previous level of funding which would now go to the new industrial body;

making provision for the transfer and management of property once administered by the District Councils •

.The CommitteeVs final recommendations were presented to a Special Unions Confe~ence held in June, 1962, by Joe Chamberlain who,as General Secretary,had played a prominent role in writing them. Albert Monk, A.C.T.U. President,was also present and addressed the conference. The major recommend­ ation which established the principle of a separate industrial organisation read as follows :

11(1) That there shall be a transitional period of three years commencing 1/1/63 to bring into effective existence a separate Trades and Labor Council and a separate political organisation.

"(2) That during the transitional period there shall be agreed upon certain conditions to safeguard the organisation of the W.A. Branch of the A.L.P., but these shall in no way be construed as meaning any control by the A.L.P. of the Trades and Labor Council during the transitional period.

11(3) That, as from the 1st January, 1963, the unions as at 1/6/62 affiliated with the A.L.P. shall form themselves into a body to be named 'The Trades and Labor Council of W.A.' subject to the following terms and conditions :

(a) That each and every union affiliated with the A.L.P. as at the 1st June, 1962, shall not be eligible to be affiliated with the Trades and Labor Council if any such union disaffiliates from the A.L.P.

(b) That no union which is not affiliated with the A.L.P. shall be permitted to affiliate with the Trades and Labor Council until affiliation with the A.L.P. is effected, during the transitional period.

(c) That the nine district councils of the A.L.P. shall be disbanded - 35 -

(d) That during the transitional period the state Executive A.L.P. shall continue to render accounts to affiliated unions on the basis of the existing affiliation fee of 3/8d. per annum for males and 1/9d. per annum for females.

(e) That of each 3/8d. and 1/9d. collected, 1/6d. and 8~d. respectively shall be paid into the account of the Trades and Labor Council of W.A. each quarter.

(f) That, sUbject to any existing legal position, the state Executive A.L.P. shall be responsible for and administer any and all property vested under authority of each and every district council of the A.L.P.

(g) As from 1/1/1963 the A.L.P. shall not handle questions of an industrial nature other than those referred to it by the Trades and Labor Council of W.A., which shall be deemed to be the state Branch of the A.C.T.U. in accordance with Rule 8 of that body's Rules

"(4) Subject to the adoption of the foregoing, the Trade Unions Industrial Council, from its membership, shall appoint a committee which shall frame rules for the conduct of the Trades and Labor Council. The rules, when framed, shall be submitted to the inaugural meeting of the Trades and Labor Council in January, 1963, for its consideration, which shall take place on the following basis of representation :

'Each union affiliated with the Trades and Labor Council shall be entitled to represent~ ation as follows :

Membership of 250 or less 1 delegate II 251 to 750 2 delegates II 751 to 1250 3 delegates II 1251 to 1750 4 delegates II 1751 to 2250 5 delegates II 2251 and over 6 delegates which shall be the maximum

'Delegates shall be financial members or officials of the organisation they represent. - 36 -

"(5) The offices at present occupied by the Metropolitan Council of the A.L.P. shall be made available to the Trades and Labor Council on conditions mutually acceptable.

II (6) During the transitional period, and at the request of either body, there shall be meetings of representatives of the A.L.P. (W.A. Branch) and the Trades and Labor Council of W.A. for the purpose of reviewing the functioning of both bodies with a view to taking any action mutually agreed upon to strengthen the Labor Movement of W.A. Providing that no condition approved by this General Council covering the functioning of the two bodies during the transitional period shall be disturbed.

11(7) The President of the Trade Unions Industrial Council, together with the General Secretary, shall take the necessary steps to convene the inaugural meeting of the Trades and Labor Council referred to in paragraph (4)11

This historic motion was seconded by Jim White and supported by,among others, Tom Henley and Gordon Harris. It was carried on the voices as it was when subsequently presented to the General Council the following day. Further motions adopted by the General Council, among other things, established Electorate Councils in place of District Councils and changed the composition of the State Executive to direct representation from unions and A.L.P. Branches. (72)

The State Executive meeting held on 27th November, 1962, was informed that all District Councils had now adopted the disbandment motion required of them to legally wind up their administrative activities. Three weeks later the minutes of the State Executive meeting carried the following heading - 37 -

"MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY (W.A. BRANCH) REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BASIC FORM OF POLITICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATION APPROVED BY THE SIXTH TRADES UNION AND LABOR CONGRESS WHICH MET IN THE KALGOORLIE TRADES HALL ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH 1907 AND FOLLOWING DAYS'

HELD IN TRADES HALL PERTH ON MONDAY 10TH DECEMBER, 1962" (73)

The first meeting of the State Executive under the new Constitution was held in Trades Hall Perth on 21st January, 1963. There were 36 unions directly represented by 60 delegates, including Torn Henley, Jim White and Gordon Harris. Other attendance included 36 delegates from A.L.P. Branches plus the State Executive officers. The agenda did not include one item from the Unions,. who were no doubt more interested in the meeting to take place the following night. (74)

On 22nd January, the inaugural meeting of the new Trades and Labor Council was held, also in Trades Hall Perth. It was attended by 118 delegates representing 50 unions plus Joe Chamberlain and Albert Monk. J.C. (Joe) Pereira from the Police Union chaired the meeting. (75)

A month later, the State Executive was informed that three meetings of the new TeL.C. had taken place and a Constitution and Rules had been adopted by the Council. It was now functioning under its own rules.

The Labor Movement,as it had existed for over half a century, was no more. It had finally joined its counterparts in the Eastern States of Australia. - 38 -

The test of whether the new-look Labor Movement was superior to that of the past would lie in the benefits or otherwise that would flow to its supporters, the working people of Western Australia. ABBREVIATIONS

A.. C.T .. U. Australian Council of Trade Unions

A"L"F. Australian Labor Federation

A.. L"P .. Australian Labor Party

D.L.P" Democratic 'Labor Party

I.W.W. Industrial Workers of the World

O"B.U One Big Union

T.L.C. Trades and Labor Council

SAWA State Archives of W.A.

W"A.T.U.I.C. West Australian Trade Unions Industrial Council

W.A.C.T.U. West Australian Council of Trade Unions SOURCE OF APPENDICES

Appendix

I "The Bitter Fight" by Joe Harris

II ibid.

III Official Report of proceedings of First General Council A.L.P. held 1910 Battye 329.9··.AUS

IV "The Bitter Fight" by Joe Harri~

V State Archives of W.A. MN 300 Acc l688A/447

VI SAWA MN 300, Acc l688A447

VII Mrs. H. Butorac, Paddy Troy's daughter

VIII Battye Library BA 830/3

IX L. Elliott pBrsonal collection

X Maritime Union of Australia (Ftle Branch)

XI R.W. Clohessy, Tom Henley's son-in-law

XII Mrs. H. Butorac

XIII Official Report of Proceedings of 22nd General Council held June, 1962. Battye 329.9. AUS

XIV SAWA Microfiche Appendix I

FIRST WESTERN AUSTRALIAN TRADES AND LABOUR CONGRESS, COOLGARDIE, APRIL 1399 Back row: John Reside (A.C.E.D.A.), R. Hancock (T. \'V. L.C., Perth), H. Hast ir- (A.W.A.), W. Frazer (1\.\\'.1\.), J. \V. Nevill (A.\\'.A.) M. H. O'Connor (A.W.A.), L. Lamey (Loe. Eng. Ass., Cleaners and Firemen), W. Stuart (A.W.A., Sout hcrn Cross), J. ~leCartll) (Bootmakera, Perth) Middle row: R. I31amire (T. and L.C., Kalgoorlie), It Pugh (Bakers, Perth), S. n. Ifill (13oikrl11akers and Shipbuilders, Frcmantle], Reid (A.W.A.), W. Owen (Carpenters and Joiners, Perth), II. de Largie (A.W.A., (;oldficlds), F. (;ilh,..rt (A.W.A., (;oldficltla). F. Davis (T. and L.C., Perth), 1'. Teasdale (A.C.E.D.A.), W. McIlroy (Alluvial Hights and D,..I11. Ass., Boulder), J. Drady (A.\I'.'\.) Front row: W. Kerr (A.C.E.D.A.), D. MeMurtic (I\.W.A.), T. II. Bath (Knights of Lahour}, W. D. Johson (Carpenters anti .Ioincrs. Boulder), J. Price (I\.W.A., Goldfields)

'...... I· , \,1 ...... ) Appendix II

HUGH De LARGIE

Chairman of the First West Australian Trades Union and Labor Congress held Coolgardie, 1899. Later elected as Senator for W.A. Appendix III

e.Ie.ge.te-s to the First ene-ral Council, I9!

THE FIRST GENERAL COUNCIL HELD UNDER THE NEW RULES AND CONSTITUTION OF THE W.A. AUSTRALIAN LABOR FEDERATION ADOPTED AT THE 1907 W.A. TRADES UNION AND LABOR CONGRESS Appendix IV

The workiiu; clas» and thv _cmrloyill~ cla-e- have nothing in C01ll1ll011. There can be no pt·ace :-0 long- a:- hunger and want arc Iouud amoru; millions of working- peoplc and the few. who muke III' thc Cl1Il'lo\'il1g- cla-s. hav« :111 the good thillg-s of li,fe. }ktwe.:I.'1I tht,).l· \WO c1a:-:;e.:~ :1' :-otruggk 11111,,\ ~o 011 until I lte worker » of t he wurld \.Irgallizv a,,:u cia".... take.: po:-"e:-sioll of t hv eur t h und the machiuvry of I'rll(iliClioll. and a1>oli ... h t he wage sv sl 1:111. • \\'e find t hut the ceutvrirur of the munugvtncnt of iml nstric.." • into Icwcr uud [ewer luuuls mukv» the' tr adv unions nnuhlv to co 1'1.' with the evvr growing 1'0\\'('1' 01 1he e11l1'Ioyiug clu-«. 'l'Iu­ trudv uuiou- Io-tcr a :-tatl.· of aflairs which ullow- CllII.· ...t'( of wutkvr« to be pitte(\.. agaill:-.t another :-d of worker» ill t lu- -:II111' in.Iu ... try , thereby ht:ll'ing ddt'at oue :lIl1~th~'rill .\\'a~e \\,ar:-..' :\101'1.'11\'\:1', the trude uuiun- aid t he enil'loyin~ cla:-:-. ttl 1,.:-.It:ad the worker» into the bvlief t hat t hc working cla:-.'" have inu-rc-t» in CI.11I11IOII with their \:1111'10)'<:1':-. Thl':"l' couditiou- call Ix: chumnd and t hc intere-t of t lu­ wnrk in~ da:-.:-. upheld only hy all org:l1Iization formed in such a way t hut all it:- III em I11.'1':-' in all)' OIlC iudu-trv, or ill all indu-tries , if nl.·(:e.::-:-an·, cease work wln-uvver a -trikc or lockout is 011 in uny (1t:I'art'nll:nt therof, thus 11Iakill~ an injury to one all inj ury to all. . Iu-tvud of the couservutive III otto, ".-\ fair day'~ wagcs for a fair d:l\"s work." we I1III:-t inscribe 011 our 1):111111.'1' the revolu­ tionurv \~'a tc hword, .. Aboli t ion of t he wage -vstem... It is tIll: historic m i-sion of lilt: workin~ class to do uwav with capituli-ru. The ur my of production must he oruanizcd, not only Ior \111: en:ry day :-.trttggle with capitalists. hut abo to carry 011 productiou when cnpitali-m -hul] have been overthrown, By Ilrl-:alli7.illg iudustriallv wv an' forming the structure of t hv new :--o\:il'ty within the :-hl·11 (If the old. Kill/wing. therefore. that such an orgnnizutiou is absolutclv nl'l:l':-:-ary for 0\11' emaucipution, WI: unite under the constitution of the Industriul Workers of the \\"')rld. DELAIDE I.W.W. meets in the Socialist Hall, Wakefield'Street, every Wednesday, at 8 p.rn, This 15 the trae Worting-Cla.ss OrganlSll.tlon. Come lllong and enqlllre.

THE O.B.U. PLUS THE USE OF THE STRIKE WEAPON WAS SEEN BY MANY IN THE 1920's AS THE ONLY WAY TO OVERTHROW CAPITALISM (a) To collect. tabnln te, lIn,l orglllli",- pvi,Jpllce ill In vor of the ...... ~ Basic 'Wage, Hours of Labor. lind District Allown II(;{'S......

(h) He shall conduct the case on hehnl f pf nil unions at the u nuun l revision of the Basic "'age. + (e) In any case in which t.he qur-st lou of 110111''' or Dlstri«! Allow­ L ance is raised by the issues it, will lie his d nly to present the ease for these mn tt urs, lon vlnu tho presentu tlon of fhe tech­ nical side of the cns« to the ngent nlJPoinlp,1 hy fhe pn rt lcular union concerned.

(d) If any union which cont.ri lurtes f0 tills scheme de"i res I he :",'1'­ vices of 1111' Union Arblt rn t.iun Agent t o lin'"PIlI. t hol r whole cuse they "lIn cn ll upon him to nd. for them. (e) He will scrut.inise the lilllgnage of IH'ollosed ngrpPIllPnts ami citations to see if t.he langnll/":;f' used denrly I":pre",,,"s what is 1Il intended by the pn rties, awl nrlvisn if the l'r

INFORMATION BiJlmA{) '1'0 gil"(' effept to this scheme it: will 1>" 111'I'"""ar.,· to ""t:lIJli"ll all '::> Information Itnrr-a n, the work of whir-l: would I", u vu i ln hle fo all Illlion" n Illlin ted. 'I'he requirements in this d i rrx-t iun ami tlu- qlH'sUon of tlle x pnymont of an advocate. orc., would 1Il'('"s"ifafe Ilip pnvmt-u t hy .,-1 -o n Illlln f "II unions of ~11. per n.Iult mernhr-r iHlr m ont h. l:: In the oplnion of the committee aufhorised 1<1 is:''1l1' t.his cl rculu r Q) 0.. the payment Iuvolved would be recoupor! Ilia ny I ifill'S III'('!' 10 t.hr­ 0.. workers, iuasmuch as fhe result of 1'00H'l'ul I'llI ion wo uh] Ilndolll>tedl," ~ mean an improvement in the bnslc rate which would apply fo ali workers, and in this respect it need only lie pnlnt orl out t hu t n n lncronso or even 2/- per week in the basic I'MI' would mon n n pproximn telv £I4,mH per week, or £758,000 per year. Yours fraternally,

(Signed)- C. HAYNJDS .T. W. BUHGF:SS Members of the Com­ W. D. ,JOHNSON mittee appointed hy P. .T. l\100NIiJY t.he Confl'rpnl'{, of K II. BAll.KJ';lt Unions tn d rn f't the s. ,I. KIGNNl'lALLY report. W. SOl\llGRVILU'l 1'. J. '!'HAINI,;n i is desired that your Union arrive at a decision as soon as possible. So that the scheme may be fully stood members of the Special Committee will ~=== meeting of your members on being requested + to answer questions and give such required. 1'. J. lIfOONEY, , Acting Genna! Secretary

"\Vol"ker" . Pri n t , 38-40-42-41 Slirlillg- Street, Pert h, •••++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++••+ Appendix VI ,.... ,/

FORII1 81 (REG. 9(3).

I ndustrial Arbitration Act, [!H2- Hl25.

Warrant to Appear as Agent, etc.

IN THE COURT OF ARBITRATION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

No 5.1.t.;I,.~A~~. BETWEEN CGustlll Aerated \'luter urid Cordi[~l 11£.nufacturers E'tJ:!l·o·Y')·es···fn:O'u<'l'tri!.11···lJni:on..ef··Ylo·rkers····· .

A]Jplicant (01' Complainant),

AND

····l1rrckuys·j···f,Ef'J.'z'tm.1'··'.'IEJ.t·er··COllrpuny······· . t'.nii ()the 1'8 Respondent (or Defendant). .J::~/C'i{I-J(,U?«? • Nsme in fuU of Agent. r~d of ~/) d. 'Ii~ . tN":ti'o:'1':~:~~is hereby authorised to appear and act for t ....??<)..~.t~~ .. ~~.~~.t.~~ ...~l~.~~.r. ..~~. &vptaring. . Cordial I,Januf:.:.cturers :Ehplo:.:eea Irnlus t r Le L Union of ':iuT;.~er3],: ...... , , .

as Agent in the matter-of this reference (or application).

Dated this J..?~?- day of....IJ.~? ~t.~ .. F L Co~s taL A.e ra teil ,,·ft, te r U~ll J vl'd lL.l i., :nu i.>.: 0 tl1 o~· ..••·..+,i~#ii;s···:Fh·pl·o,'·e·Eis··Tii.'uu~·t~·:.i'i.:.l'··Uijiuii···ur·-r:ij;.I"'li3·j;!; o ' .... ~.?~ .....:~ .... ~~ .... . t'.l)~' ~ ~ ...../ .. .'lION OP ,.qj ;;~.f' ~~;~I(P.R<;./j) .:» ...... 4.~~.!.t'..~...... /..~~!.i(~ ... ','J't. ;;;- J.\*,~ ~ hairman (or as provided in Rules) :=------(or in cases where the Warrant is given on behalf of some party other than an Industrial Union or Association-

Signature of Party). t?- Filed this ../I ~ day of.. ~ Ioo.?.4/ ~4!/~~ ~'iel'k offh~}1}~ e 4~l8j37 ...... ·...... ·..·...... ( ..·/..

(THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE A.L.P. OFTEN REPRESENTED UNIONS IN THE ARBITRATION COURT PRIOR TO 1963) To organise kindred industrial bodies throughout the State. To settle by the best means possible all industrial or inter-union disputes. (e) To affiliate with the A.C.T.U. To render assistance and support when necessary to affiliated unions. . The rules of the Council are democratic and provide for delegation to be strictly on the basis of active Union members and Union officials only. No other person can represent a on the Council. The meetings are held at night thus FOR E ensuring that the rank and file of theTrades Union can par­ ticipate. WEST AUSTRAL COUNCI Opponents of the movement for the West Australian Council of Trades Unions say "it will split the Labour Move­

ment.II Nothing could be further from the truth. A West' OF TRADES U IONS Australian Council of Trades Unions will strengthen the Unions themselves. A strong Trade Union Movement means a strong H H Labour Movement, and creates the immediate possibility of t> such beneficial results as have been outlined above. The esreb- >:: ·rl of a West Australian Council of Trades Unions '(j l=: not Interfere with Union affiliation to the labour Party. Such (j) 0... affiliation continue as at present, and as they do in 0... .or; of the other States. Every Unionist is. therefore. urged to give this matter consideration, and to have it discussed in his or her own Union or Branch. Help to strengthen the Trade Union Movement by getting your Union to affiliate to the West Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Issued by the Publicity Commilfee of the West Australian Council of Trades Unions. G. MORADAY. President. Frernentle Lumpers' Union. N. McKENZIE. Secretary, Frernentle Lurnpers' Union A. WATSON. Committeemen. Carpenters' Union P. l. TROY. V.O.• Coastal Docks' Union. Port P'inting Works. Fremarule 1 / .{J- . .• , vV.iJ I (lor'''' '~1~vr ~: /l f • ;{l ev J.'J JvJ/ tJ'.v.-.){ i.K , fl 1/," 1,1 i}("!,~ I' Appendix VIII

...... ;....- ... " :c;tlt~~~i. ,~~~;;c;

~ 0- >.:.

THE OFFICERS IN THIS PICTURE WHO WERE LATER INVDLVED IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL WERE R.W. FLETCHER, F.E~ ,CHAMBERLAIN, C.H. WEBB, J.G. WHITE R.C. COLE. R.A. HARTLEY WAS ALSO INDIRECTLY INVOLVED Appendix IX

F.E. (JOE) CHAMBERLAIN

General Secretary of the W.A. Branch of the Australian Labor Party 1949 to 1975 Appendix X

G.W. (GORDON) HARRIS

Secretary of the Fremant1e Branch of the waterside Workers Federation 1951 to 1967 Appendix XI

I

.,

T.W. (TOM) HENLEY

State Secretary of the Carpenters and Joiners' Union 1948 to 1971 Appendix XII

P.L. (PADDY) TROY ".

Secretary of the Ship Painters and Dockers Union (Later Maritime Workers Union) 1948 to 1973 Appendix XIII

:,'

The twenty-second General Council of the Australian Labor Party- . in Western Australia may well be referred to as one of historical significance, because its 180 del~gates from affiliated unions and political branches wrote finis to a political-industrial constitution which was unique in Australia and had been in existence for more than a half century.

The establishment of a separate Trades and Labor Council to function in the industrial concept of the Australian Council of Trade Unions was approved, but not without opposition.

Many delegates who supported it did so on the ground of its inevitability and with some pangs as to the passing of an order which, without question, had brought many industrial and political benefits to un.ionists and their families.

Those who opposed did so in the belief that only by political action can the more basic problems of the under-privileged in the community be resolved, and this step would weaken the political wing.

It is heartening to recall, however, and it augurs well for the future, the unmistakable acceptance of the majority decision.

The ready adoption by the unions of those propositions referred to in this report as "safeguards for the :\.L.P. during the transitional period" provides evidence as to the continued loyalty of the union movement to this Party.

The new political constitution, which emerges as a natural corollary to the new industrial organisation, permits a continuance of the vigorous role played by the unions over the years in the formulation of political policy.

vVe can, I believe, look to the years ahead with growing confidence in which the industrial and political wings will continue to march side by side to the twin goals of social and economic justice.

F. E. CHAMBERLAIN, General Secretary.

FOREWORD TO THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF _ .__ 22ND GENERAL COUNCIL HELD JUNE, 1962 Appendix XIV MINU'rnS CR I:NA.UGURAL KttnN.Q .'I1Witiana 'UOOR' CO~··-.uJs'I1UiiA 22ND JANU/IRY. 1963,. ; ... , ~ Mr.. J.C.. Pereira. Mr .. F.. ! .. Chamberlain" . . VISITOR: Mr.. A" Monk, President, A.C.T"U. DILlG.\.TIS rn AT1':imD~!: O...I..Wi1boOn (.\erated Waters); J.R.Flanagan (Meat Ind':1stry) J .. H..Mutton (~ .. E.. U~) ~ R.H.. Featherstone (Merchant Serv41) J .. Co1eman (""E"U~, P.C.. Williams (M.,P .. T.. T,:lmp8 .. ) D..Wrlght (A .. E.U.. J G.Currie (M.,P .. T.T"orficers) . . J .. Mc.Mullan (A.E.. Ut) . _ F•McKenzie (Midland Railway bps) C.. Hollett (A ..E.U.. J J .. Henderson (p) (Miscoll.Worker5) J .. Marts (J. ..:I..U.. ).;, L.\1l .. Haroourt. (Miscd1eWorkers) G.. Pie8ley (A.S .. ~.) H.C.~tkinson (Miscall.Workers) R.Anderson (A"B .. E,,) H.Stono (MOulders) M..Jahn (A.S.E.) B"O'Connor (Mouldors) K.MeAteo (A.S.:I.. ) J.Crombio (Municipal RmPSt) R.. McWght (A"S.E.) J.McNell (Jiillicipal Xmps.. J .I.Archer (A.W"U .. ) T.D.Moffat (Munieipal EMps,,) F.Mitchell (A.W"U .. ) J.G.White (Painters) ',' CoRson (A.W.U .. ) X.Parkor (Painters) " R.WoBtlow (~.W.U.) T.Fewater (Paintors) H.L.Johnson (Barmaids) D.W.Fletcher (Paatrycooks) F.W.Bastow (Boilermakers) W.C.Willox (Plumbors) P"W.. Marsh (Boilermakers) E.. B"Piko (Plumbers) F"G"Grenfell(Boile~ars) D,,:I.Huntor (Plumbers) LoG.Watkins (Boot Tr-ade ] H.L.Taylor (Po l.Lco ] ~.G.Barker (Boot Trade) ~.T.Monck (Police) T.J.Daly (Bricklayers) L.D.~ilkinson lPostal TOl .. Techel H.R.Flotcher (Bricklayers) T.J.E,Novillo Postal Tal.Toch. k.Bahn (Brick ~ Pottery) B.N.Sullivan Postal T~l.Tech. F.W.French (Brick & Pottory) R.Power (Postal Workers) T.W.Henley (Carpontors) ~.Donally (Postal ~orkars) ~.rl.cant (Carpentors) J.Sowoll (Postal Workers) J.T.Tickol (Carpenters) T.J.Lockwood (Printors) R.W.Clohossy (Carponters) J.H.W.. Williams (Printers) R.J.Quinn (Cre (Flour Mill EmP~

(1) Spence, W.G. (1909), Australia's Awakening, Australia, The Worker Trustees, p.229.

Minutes of Proceedings of the First West Australian Trades Union and Labor Congress, April, 1899. Battye 329.9 AUS.

(2) Ford, Bill and Plowman, David. (1983). Unions Sth Melbourne, MacMillan. p.33

(3 ) Minutes of Proceedings of the First West Australian Trades Union and-Labor Congress. Ope cit.

(4) Ibid.

(5) Spence, W.G., Ope cit.

(6) Minutes of Proceedings of.the Fourth Trade Union and Labor Congress held Fremantle, 1902. Battye 329.9. AUS.

(7 ) Ibid.

(8) Minutes of Proceedings of the Sixth Trades Union and Political Congress held Kalgoorlie, September 1907. Battye. 329.9.AUS.

(9) Official Report of proceedings of the Fourth General Council {Tenth Labor Congress) held 1919 Battye 329.9 AUS

(10) Harris, Joe. (1970). The Bitter Fight, Brisbane, Queensland University Press.

(11) Official Report of Proceedings of the Second General Council (Congress) A.L.F. Held Fremantle, July, 1913. Battye 329.9 AUS.

(12) Official Report of Proceedings of the Special General Council (Special Congress) A.L.F. on Conscription Held Perth, March 1917. Battye 329.9.AUS.

(13 ) Official Report of proceedings of Fourth General Council. Ope cit.

(14) Macintyre, Stuart. (1984). Militant the life and times of Paddy Troy, Nth. Sydney, George Allen & Unwin.

(15 ) Official Report of proceedings of the Fifth General Council (11th Labor Congress) A.L.P. held Perth, June, 1922. Battye 329.9.AUS

(16) Ford, Bill and Plowman, David, Ope cit. - 2 -

(17) Ford, Bill and Plowman, David, Ope cit. p.38

(18) Illustrated Hi of Australia (1974), Sydney, Ure Smith p.

(19) Ford, Bill and Plowman, David, Ope cit. p.272

(20) Macintyre, Stuart, Ope cit. p.247

(21) Macintyre, Stuart Ope cit. p.247

Ford, Bill and Plowman, David, Ope cit. p.39

Ormonde, Paul (1972).-The Mo~ment, Melbourne, Thomas Nelson. p.l

(22) Ford, Bill and Plowman, David, Ope cit. p.43

Hagan, J. (1981). The His of the ACT U. Melbourne: Longman Cheshire. p.

(23) Pamphlet "One Advocate for Unions before the State Arbitration Court. 1926. SAWA MN 300 Acc 1688A/447

(24) Official Report of proceedings of the Seventh General Council (13th Labor Congress) A.L.P. held Perth, October 1928. Battye 329.9 AUS

(25) Minutes of Conference of Trade Union Delegates held Trades Hall, Perth 28.10.30,

Circular letter from E.H. Barker General Secretary, A.L.P. convening Conference 29.9.30 SAWA MN 300, Acc 1688A/447

(26) Official Report of Proceedings of the Eighth General Council (14th Labor Congress) held 1931. Battye 329.9. AUS

(27) Ibid.

(28) Official Report of Proceedings of the Ninth General Council (15th Labor Congress) A.L.P. held Perth, November, 1932 Item from Perth Tramway Employees' Union calling for establishment of an Industrial Bureau and Officer rejected

Letter from P.J. Trainer, General Secretary State Executive A.L.P. to members of the Industrial Committee convening meeting to draw up a scheme for presentation to next Congress regarding appointment of Industrial Advocate dated 21.9.34 and Letter from P.J. Trainer to District Council Secretaries requesting information on affiliated organisations and incom2 needed regarding appointment of an advo.cate for Unions before the Arbitration Court SAWA MN 300, ACQ 1688A/446

Letter from P.J. Trainer 11.9.35 convening meeting to draw up report on Industrial Advisor to next Congress

Report and recommendations of special committee appointed by State Executive A.L.P. to report to Congress regarding the question of an Industrial Advocate and Adviser circulated with letter from P.J. Trainer 25.9.35 SAWA MN 300, Acc 1688a/44( - 3 -

Official Report of proceedings of the Eleventh General Council (17th Labor Congress) A.L.P. held Perth October 1938. Moves for Industrial Bureau defeated. Battye 329.9 AUS

Official Report of Proceedings of Thirteenth General Council (19th Labor Congress) A.L.P. held Perth December, 1944. Decision to establish Industrial Bureau, to provide information, advocacy and co-ordination between unions under control and direction of state Executive. Battye 329.9 AUS

Letter from S.E. Lapham, A/Secretary of T.U.I.C: to F.E. Chamberlain regarding. Salary of Secretary and working basis of the Industrial Council and Formation of an Industrial Bureau. Submitting proposals. Dated 28.10.49

Lettemfrom General Secretary to S.E. Lapham 16.11.49 and 21.2.50 advising State Executive prepared to set up "Research Bureau and Library" as soon as possible, but Unions must first pay their affiliation fees.

Circular letter from F.E. Chamberlain to all unions dated 26.6.50 regarding establishment of an industrial Bureau forwarding detailed proposals on how objective may be achieved. SAWA MN 300 Acc 2890A/125-l35

(29) Minutes of meeting of Trade Union Secretaries held 26.3.42 Provides evidence that most recommendations adopted by State Executive. SAWA MN 300, Acc 1198A/5

(30) Letter from General Secretary A.L.P. to A.R.G. Hawke, Minister for Labour, sending items re : workers compensation and long service leave adopted by the State Executive on recommendation of the Industrial Committee. 18.1.44. SAWA MN 300, Acc 1688A/447

Let~e~from T.G. Davies, General Secretary A.L.P. to A.R.G. Hawke, Minister for Labour, sending industrial decisions of last Congress, which the Industrial Committee desired to confer about prior to next Session of Parliament. 9.3.43. SAWA MN300, Acc l688A/447

Letter from A/General Secretary dated 23.9.44 to members of the Industrial Committee calling meeting to deal with proposed amendments to the Industrial Arbitration Act, Shops and Factories Act, Workers Compensation Act, Uniform holidays, sick leave conditions for government employees and right of entry to premises of employers by union representatives to investigate work-caused injuries. The Committee subsequently met the Minister on 12.10.44 to discuss these issues. SAWA MN 300, Acc 1688A/447 - 4 -

(31) Transcript of W.A. Arbitration Court Basic Wage Annual Enquiry 1942-43 heard 14.4.42. T.G. Davies appeared for Industrial Unions affiliated with the W.A. Branch of the A.L.P. SAWA MN 300, Acc 1198A/5

(32) Minutes of meeting attended by 30 Trade Union delegates on 15th May, 1944. Appointed T.G. Davies, General Secretary A.L.P, as advocate to represent unions before the Arbitration Court on a case dealing with pegging of wages and anomalies. Also see Appendix ( V) SAWA MN 300, Acc 1688A/447.

(33) Official Report of Proceedings of Sixth General ,Council (12th Labor Congress) A.L.P. held Perth July, 1925. Battye 329.9.AUS.

(34) Minutes of meeting of Trade Union representatives held 15th May, 1944 record that G. Strickland (Boot Trade Employees' Union) and R. Saggers (Arms and Explosives) refused to sign the pledge and left the meeting. SAWA MN 300 1688A/447

(35) Paper on the Formation of the Trades and Labor Council of Western Australia, presented by P.L. Troy to the Three Day Seminar "Where Have we Come From and Where Are We Going" held 9 - 11 November, 1976.

Also see pamphlet "The Case for the West Australian Council of Trades Unions (Appendix (vII)

(36) Paper by P.L. Troy, ibid.

(37) F.E. Chamberlain Unpublished autobiography. Battye.

Also see P.J. Clarey address to 16th General Council August, 1949 329.9. AUS Battye

(38 ) Minutes of State Executive A.L.P. Meeting 18th August, 1947 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/555

(39 ) Minutes of State Executive A.L.P. meeting 18th August, 1947 ibid.

Minutes of State Executive A.L.P. meeting 1st september, 1947 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/555

Minutes of State Executive A.L.P. meeting 1st December, 1947. SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/555

Metropolitan Council A.L.P. File SAWA MN 300, Acc 1718A/52

Official Report of proceedings of Fourteenth General Council (20th Labor Congress) AoL.P. held Perth December, 1947. Battye 329.9 AUS (40) Constitution and Rules of the Trade Unions Industrial Council A.L.P. (W.A. Branch) SAWA MN 1177, Acc 3493A/5 - 5 -

(41) For example : Minutes of State Executive A.LoP. meeting of 15.10.48 report T.U.I.C. met on 12.10.48 and made major decisions concerning meeting with Employers' Federation on Arbitration Court procedure; deputation to Arbitration Court on industrial agreements; basic wage hearings; public holidays; apprentices.

Minutes of State Executive A.L.P. meeting of 1 010.48 report Industrial Committee of state PoL.P. met officers of the W.A. T.U.I.C. to discuss amendments to the Bill to amend the Workers' Compensation Act. State PoL.Po agreed to T.U.I.C. suggestions. SAWA MN 300, Acc 289DA/555

(42) For example : See Minutes of Special Meeting of State Executive A.L.P. Officers of 15.12.48 - attends to urgent appointment of Workers' Representative on the Workers' Compensation Boa~d.

Minutes of State Executive A.L.P. meeting of 1.10.48 ­ Minister for National Service lnviting President and Secretary of W.A. Branch of A.L.P. to attend conference of Trade Unions in Sydney. State Executive held ballot. Two delegates protested said invitation should be extended to T.U.I.C.

(43) For example : See Minutes of State Executive A.L.P. meeting 1.10.48 report of dispute between Railway Officers Union and Commissioner of Railways over proposed transfer of one of its members. Meeting between State Disputed Committee, Union representatives and Commissioner 28.9.48 resulted in satisfactory settlement.

Minutes of state Executive A.L.P. meeting 15.10.48. Letter from Brickyard Employees' Union thanking members of the state Disputes Committee for its assistance in recent dispute concerning roof tile fixers.

Minutes of state Executive A.L.P. meeting 10.1.49. Clerks Union happy with result of State Disputes Committee involvement in dispute between union and Electricity Commission.

Minutes of state Executive A.L.P. meeting 10.1.49 W.A. Amalgamated Society of Railway Employees dispute with Commissioner for Railways-re employment of goods porters. A satisfactory result achieved by State Disputes Committee.

Minutes of State Executive A.L.P. meeting 4.2.49. Builders Labourers' dispute with the Dept. of Works and Housing over use of non-union labour "solved" with help of State Disputes Committee. - 6 -

(44) Minutes of state Executive A.L.P. meeting 20.2.48. Report from W.A.T.U.I.C. meeting 10.2.48. SAWA MN 300, Acc2890A.555

(45) Ormonde, Paul (1972) Ope cit.

(46) Chamberlain, F.E. unpublished autobiography. opocit.

(47) Minutes of state Executive A.L.P. officers' meeting 15.11.48. P.J. Clarey and A. Monk also attended the State Executive meeting on 18.11.48, but the minutes are missing from the Minute Book. SAWA MN 300, 2890A/17

(48) Minutes of State Executive A.L.P. meeting 21.1.49 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/555

(49) Official Report of proceedings of the Sixteenth General Council (22nd Labor Congress) held Perth, August 1949. Battye 329.9.AUS

P.L. Troy paper, Ope cit.

(50) Minutes of a conference between T.U.I.C. and State Executive A.L.P. officers 20.10.49 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/17

Letter from S.E. Lapham A/Secretary T.U.I.C. to F.E. Chamberlain 28.10.49. 0po cit.

Letter from General Secretary to S.E. Lapham 16.11.49 Ope cit.

Letter from S.E. Lapham to General Secretary 20.1.50 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/125-l35

Minutes of T.U.I.C meeting 20.1.50

Letter from F.E. Chamberlain to S.E. Lapham 21.2.50. op.cit.

Circular letter from F.E. Chamberlain to all unions 26.6.50 Ope cit.

Minutes of Special General Council A.L.P. held 13th and 14th December, 1950. SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/125-235

Letter from T.W. Henley, Secretary Carpenters and Joiners Union to R.A. Hartley, Secretary Metropolitan Council 8.2.51 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/125-l35

Letter from T.U.I.C. to State Executive 12.9.51 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/125-l35

Minutes of Special General Council 23 and 24-April,1952 Letter from F.E. Chamberlain to R.A. Hartley 29.5.52 Committee Report to 1952 General Council. SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/125-l35 - 7 -

(51) Minutes of Special General Council 28.10.53 SAWA MN 300 Acc 2890/17

(52) Minutes of Special State Executive A.L.P. Officers meeting 26.4.49 and State Executive meeting 8.7.49 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/555

(53) F.E. Chamberlain Report to Special Unions Conference 10.12.57 SAWA MN300, Acc 2890A/17

(54) State A.B.C. News Bulletin 16.10.56 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/494

(55) Paper on file 2890A/17 containing figures on union strength in the A.L.P.

(56) Paper headed "Proposed Formation of Trades and Labor Council in W.A. Recommendations to Special Industrial Council Meeting 20.8.57. SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/17

(57) 1957 A.C.T.U. Congress decision SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/17

(58) Minutes of Special Unions Conference 10.12.57. SAWA MN 300 Acc 2890A/17

(59) Minutes of Special General Council held Perth 25.2.58 SAWA MN 1177, Acc 3493A/3-22(5)

(60) F.E. Chamberlain report SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890/17

(61) AoC.T.U. Congress Report by F.E. Chamberlain SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/17

(62) Australian Newspaper 4.9.59 SAWA MN 300, Acc

(63) P.L. Troy letter to F.E. Chamberlain 19.9.59

F.E. Chamberlain letter to P.L. Troy 23.9.59 SAWA MN 300 Acc 2890A/17

(64) Minutes of Special Unions Conference 23 and 24.11.59 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/17

(65) West Australian Newspaper 25.11.59 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/17

(66) Minutes of Special General Council 25.11.59

F.E. Chamberlain letter to H.J. Souter, Secretary, A.C.T.U. 7.12.59. SAWA MN 300, 2890A/17

(67) Extracts from Minutes of State Executive A.L.P. meeting 4.4.60 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/562

(68) Minutes of State Executive A.L.P. meetings 31.10.60 and 12.12.60 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/562

(69) Minutes of State Executive A.L.P. meeting 17.7.61. SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/562 - 8 -

(70) Minutes of state Executive A.L.P. meeting 21.8.61 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/562 (71) Minutes of Special Affiliated Unions Conference 28.8.61 and Special General Council 28.8.61. SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/17

(72) Official Report of Proceeding~ of 22nd General Council held Perth June, 1962 Battye 329.9 AUS.

(73) Minutes of State Executive A.L.P. meetings27.ll~62 .and 10.12.62 SAWA MN 300, Acc 2890A/562

(74) Minutes of State Executive A.L.P. meeting 21.1.63 SAWA MN 300, Acc 3212A/l.

(75) Minutes of Inaugural Trades and Labor Council meeting 22.1.63. SAWA Microfiche.