AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS’ 75th anniversary COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET Autographs

THE ACTU 75 YEARS STRONG

When union delegates gathered in the Victorian Trades Hall in 1927 to establish the Australian Council of Trade Unions they had a clear vision — to lift the living standards and quality of working life of working people.

And their strategy to achieve this was also clear — to build union organisation of the workforce on a national basis.

75 years further on, the ACTU, its affiliated unions and their members can celebrate a proud record of achievement on behalf of working Australians and the community.

The industrial gains are many: decades of wage increases through the award system and campaigns in the field, safer workplaces, equality for women, improvements in working hours, entitlements to paid holidays and better employment conditions, and the establishment of a universal superannuation system.

The ACTU has played a role in all of these achievements, but has contributed to fairness and justice in the community as well – contributing to Australia’s post-war development and immigration program, the social security system, Medicare and education — to name just a few areas of policy.

The ACTU has also represented Australian unionism in the international arena, opposing discrimination and oppression and supporting human rights. The ACTU aid agency, APHEDA — Union Aid Abroad, contributes to humanitarian projects in many countries.

The enduring commitment of working Australians to a fairer society is reflected in the continuing fight to protect the fundamental principles of unionism.

The right to organise and the right to collectively bargain sit at the heart of the 21st century struggle for a just Australia, just as it did throughout the previous century.

We will best keep the faith with those who have worked and sacrificed to build the ACTU over the past 75 years by keeping the union cause bright and vibrant into the future.

Sharan Burrow Greg Combet ACTU President ACTU Secretary g 1927 THE BEGINN ING

NAME: AUSTRALASIAN COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS

Objectives — the socialisation of industry, ie. Production, distribution and exchange Methods — consolidation of the Australian labour movement with the object of unified administration, action and control of industrial disputes

— proposal for an all-Australian Council of Trade Unions adopted by Congress May 3 1927 Bruce’s militant anti-union government had its own waterfront dispute, attempting to control unionists by refusing them a license to work. The ACTU would essentially face the same fight 70 years later.

he ACTU was born in a period of intense industrial turmoil. Coal miners, timberworkers, wharfies and manufacturing workers were all T mired in bitter strikes or lock-outs, some lasting more than a year. Under the conservative fist of Prime Minister Stanley Melbourne Bruce, secret ballots, repressive anti-strike laws and heavy financial penalties for strikers were the order of the day. On May 3 1927, 108 unions held their own parliament at Melbourne’s Trades Hall and voted overwhelmingly to form a national body. As the 20s drew to an end, the infant ACTU was about to be further tested by the extreme unemployment of the Depression years.

Timberworkers’ dispute, late 1920s 3 g ACTU g75 years g

Over the last 75 years the union movement In 1944 staff at Sydney newspapers the Herald, the Telegraph, the Sun and has made tremendous gains on the Mirror struck successfully for a 40 hour week.d the most important issues for workers and their families — wages, hours, representation, leave, security, safety.

g 40 Hour Week In 1946, the ACTU lodged a claim for a 40 hour week. It argued that shorter hours would make workers more efficient and the booming economy could afford it. Two years later the case was won and the 40 hour week began on January 1, 1948. Surviving the g Reasonable Hours A 38 hour week was adopted Depression in many awards throughout the 1980s and used as a standard in the 1983 National By 1932, 30% of all trade unionists were out of work. Wage Case. However, in the g Embracing employment and the ACTU Affiliation to the ACTU weakened as unions lost last 2 decades working hours Immigration — driven by the foresight of money and members. Australia’s GDP fell by 30 have steadily grown again for For decades, unions opposed Albert Monk — embraced the million pounds in one year. The Arbitration Court cut many workers. This year, immigration and demanded ALP’s “populate or perish” award wages by 10% indefinitely. under the ACTU’s Reasonable enforcement of the White program. Millions of post-war When the recovery began in 1933, the ACTU argued Hours Test Case, the right to Australia Policy, in the belief migrants entered Australia that workers should share in the new growth and refuse overtime — if it that cheap, foreign labour and by 1966 they made up from 1934, succeeded in having the wage cut conflicted unreasonably with hurt employment. more than 30% of the gradually restored. family responsibilities or manufacturing workforce and health and safety — was But the expanding economy had begun changing extended to all workers. of the 1940s brought full Australian life for the better. 5 g ACTU g75 years g 1927-2002 KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

g Equal Pay for Women g Leave For decades, women doing the same work as men were paid Over 75 years the ACTU has just a fraction of their salary. In fought for and won an line with societal norms of 1907, impressive raft of leave Justice Higgins, in establishing provisions bringing humanity the Basic Wage, ruled that a and balance into the lives of man’s wage must be enough to workers. This includes: feed and clothe his wife and 1941g 1 week annual leave family. A woman’s wage was to pay only for herself. 1941g sick leave g Unification of the Union weeks, and for workers over 45, 20 weeks. A landmark ruling in 1969 Movement — ACSPA & 1946g 2 weeks annual leave smashed through the CAGEO g Unions At Work — 1953g long service leave discrimination and by 1974 all In the late 1970s, Australia’s blue Building Our Future women were finally entitled to 1963g 3 weeks annual leave and white collar unions merged The ACTU’s new organising equal pay for work of equal under the banner of the ACTU, strategy detailed in the 1970g 4 weeks annual leave value. unifying the movement. The unions@work report in 1999 has 1971g maternity leave g 50/50 ACTU Executive merger with ACSPA (Australian delivered intensive training to Council of Salaried & more than 9000 organisers and 2001g maternity & carers In 1993, the ACTU Congress Professional Associations) and delegates through organising leave for casuals voted to bring gender balance CAGEO (Council of Australian centres in Sydney, Melbourne, to the Executive which had been The ACTU is now pushing for Government Employee Adelaide and Perth. The male-dominated since 1927. A extended carers leave, paid Organisations) extended the increased focus on strategic 50% quota achieved in 2000 has maternity leave and better ACTU’s reach across banking, workplace organising has been seen women equally included in access to all forms of leave insurance, teaching, local accompanied by two years of the decision-making processes for casuals. government, nursing and many net growth in union of the ACTU other white collar occupations. membership nationally. g Superannuation g Work and Family g Occupational Health and From as early as the 1960s, a In 2003 the ACTU will begin a Safety number of unions achieved Work and Family Test Case to Unionists have consistently superannuation for their create flexibility and choice for ranked OHS as a priority since members and established workers with young children. the ACTU’s first detailed policy industry funds. This led to a The claim includes an increase was adopted at the 1979 wider push among unions to in unpaid leave for new Congress. ensure working people would mothers, more flexible working be able to enjoy a decent level Recent national campaigns by hours and the right to return to of retirement income. the ACTU’s OHS Unit include part time work. hazardous chemicals (1995), In the 1986 National Wage Case, g Redundancy Payments dangerous machinery and the ACTU argued for and won equipment (1996), stress at 3% universal super for all award In 1984, an ACTU test case work (1997), work overload workers. Compulsory super has established a standard of 8 (1998), dangerous hours (1999) since risen to 9% through the weeks severance pay as an and bullying at work (2000). legislated Super Guarantee award right for sacked workers. Charge, negotiated under the The case reflected the changing A National Occupational Health Accord in 1991. The ACTU is now nature of a globalised economy and Safety Commission campaigning for a 15% rate. in which thousands of jobs were (NOHSC) was established in Industry funds started by unions being cut across most 1985 and in 2002, the ACTU, and employer organisations in industries, particularly blue state and federal governments the 1980s now have 7.4 million collar. In 2003 the ACTU will and employers endorsed members and $50 billion in launch a new test case to Australia’s first 10 year national workers’ savings. increase the 8 week limit to 16 OHS strategy. 7 g ACTU g75 years g Leaders

The unionised workplace has produced some of our toughest and most savvy leaders. From its inception the leadership of the ACTU

has been a roll call of brilliant working men and women who have Albert Monk (1900-1975) Harold Souter (1911-1994) Reg Broadby (1904-1956) played a central role in shaping Australia’s history. President 1934-1943 / 1949-1969 Acting Secretary 1956-1957 Secretary 1949-1956 Secretary 1943-1949 Secretary 1957-1977

Jennie George (b.1947) Greg Combet (b. 1958) Sharan Burrow (b.1954) Assistant Secretary 1991-1996 Assistant Secretary 1996-2000 President 2000 - present President 1996-2000 Secretary 2000 – present

Bob Hawke (b. 1929) Peter Nolan (b. 1934) Cliff Dolan (1920-2000) Simon Crean (b. 1949) Bill Kelty (b. 1948) Martin Ferguson (b.1953) President 1969-1980 Secretary 1977-1983 President 1980 – 1985 President 1985-1990 Assistant Secretary 1977-1983 President 1990-1996 Secretary 1983-2000

ACTU PRESIDENTS Bill Duggan Albert Monk Percy Clarey Albert Monk Bob Hawke Cliff Dolan Simon Crean Martin Ferguson Jennie George Sharan Burrow 1927-34 1934-43 1943-49 1949-69 1969-80 1980-85 1985-90 1990-96 1996-2000 2000—

Charles Crofts Albert Monk Reg Broadby Harold Souter Peter Nolan Bill Kelty Greg Combet 1927-43 1943-49 1949-56 1956-77 1977-83 1983-2000 2000— ACTU SECRETARIES

9 g ACTU g75 years g Politics, unions and the actu

fter World War One, the beliefs and actions of many unionists were shaped by turbulent international events, coupled with economic conditions at A home. When the ACTU was formed in 1927, it was backed by a broad church of affiliates - some with revolutionary beliefs, some following the Penal Powers In 1968, Clarrie O’Shea, Victorian Tramways Union leader, was jailed labourist tradition and others The 1960s for refusing to pay thousands in fines levied under the Penal occupying the political ground Powers Act. These powers were introduced by Menzies in the late in between. and Beyond 50s and used most aggressively in the late 60s by employers to deter unions striking over claims for higher wages The Russian Revolution in 1917, The day after O’Shea was jailed, a million workers across Australia the Depression and the rise of g The Hawke stopped work to demonstrate their support for him and the fine Fascism in the 1930s, the onset Transition was paid by an anonymous benefactor. Soon after O’Shea’s release, of the Cold War in the late In 1969 Bob Hawke was the government moved to modify the laws. 1940s and the long economic elected ACTU President g Hawke hit workers hard as boom of the 1950s and ‘60s and steered the In 1983, Labor was elected recession took hold. significantly influenced ideas organisation through a to power with former ACTU and debate within the ACTU. period of enormous President Bob Hawke as g Keating social change. The ACTU’s role in Prime Minister. In Enterprise bargaining was Despite political tensions, influencing social policy came to the partnership with ACTU introduced in 1993, ending particularly during the Cold fore in areas like education, health, Secretary Bill Kelty, Hawke decades of centralised wage War years, affiliated unions housing and family payments. launched “the Accord” with fixing. Since that time the increased their membership Meanwhile, industrial protests unions – a mechanism to real wages of many and the ACTU’s authority against apartheid, the Vietnam War, bring inflation under unionists have increased. grew. sexual discrimination and other control, promote jobs social issues captured the headlines. growth and investment Tellingly, the union movement long boom years at an end, and to implement social g Howard remained united when the ALP g Whitlam unemployment and inflation had wage improvements in Reminiscent of the anti- split in 1955. In the most Gough Whitlam came to begun to dog Australia’s economy. partnership with union Bruce Government of testing of situations, union power in 1972, shrugging centralised wage fixation. the 1920s, John Howard re-introduced fines for unions have successfully leaders remained committed off 2 stifling decades of g Fraser Union membership began a came to power with a illegal strike action, defended the right to to the overriding goal of conservative rule. Labor The conservative Fraser slow decline as the detailed plan to demolish reduced awards to “20 collectively bargain and protecting and advancing the introduced Medibank, Government brought in anti- economy underwent unionism in the maritime, allowable matters” and staved off further wages, conditions and quality encouraged union union legislation to dampen wage substantial restructuring. meat, construction and introduced individual anti-union laws. Union of life of ordinary working membership, supported growth. In response, the ACTU mining industries, resulting contracts. He also stripped membership levels have Australians and their families. the ACTU’s wage and hours cases began to develop its “consensus” After the stock market in some epic battles, not the powers of the increased over the last two and expanded the public sector. policy – a proposal to work with a crash in 1987, least the Waterfront Industrial Relations years as unions have Unions were, however, disappointed Labor government to bolster the unemployment and Dispute of 1998. His Commission. During this refocussed on workplace by a hefty cut to tariffs. With the economy. astronomic interest rates Workplace Relations Act period, the ACTU and organisation. 11 g ACTU g75 years g WatershedDis putes

g Early Battles iron bound for Japan in a stand coal strike where the Australia. Howard secretly 1920s – In the Beginning against fascism and the Communist leaders of the trained soldiers as wharfies The fledgling ACTU had a Menzies Government which Miners Federation clashed in the ports of Dubai and baptism of fire with several was prepared to put BHP’s bitterly with the ACTU and colluded with Patrick to sack major industrial conflicts in profits before the national Labor Government. its 2000 workers and replace its first years. An early victory interest. The wharfies received them with the strikebreakers. in a dispute over piece work widespread support from the g Defending the Social The lock-out took place in in the metal trades industry union movement. The Gains of the Long Boom the dead of night. Security was followed by a spate of willingness of the WWF to In 1976, the ACTU led a guards in balaclavas protracted disputes, with few accept the assistance of the national stoppage in defence roaming the docks with positive outcomes. In a ACTU during the dispute of Medibank, the national attack dogs on chains political climate that was marked the peak body’s health scheme. became the defining motif of militantly anti-union, timber growing authority. the dispute. workers struck for five The Fraser government was months as employers tried to g War Heroes Demand threatening to dismantle the The fight produced a robust arge strikes don’t tell the whole story of our increase their hours to 48 a a 40 Hour Week scheme — a principal social display of modern union movement. Every day millions of trade unionists week, while the miners were Hours of work were the gain of the Whitlam era. solidarity, as well as locked out for more than a defining issue for returned take small stands that incrementally better the year over a wage cut. servicemen and their unions at lives of working people. But big disputes the end of World War Two. The showcase the passion, courage and breadth of g Pig Iron and a campaign for a 40 hour week L Principled Stand began with a successful strike solidarity that holds our movement together. In 1938 waterside workers at in the newspaper industry in Port Kembla refused to load pig 1944. The ACTU took up the issue for other unions in the Arbitration Court, kicking off what Albert Monk described as a lawyers’ picnic, lasting 2 years. In 1948, it culminated in the historic decision to codify the 40 hour week. g MUA Here To Stay — widespread community Waterfront Showdown support, over many months g Cold War Splits In 1998 the Howard at picket lines across Cold war politics cast a Government marked its first Australia. After a stunning shadow over the union term by backing Patrick moral and High Court movement from the late Stevedores in a vicious attack victory, the MUA workers 1940s, notably in the 1949 on the Maritime Union of were re-instated.

13 g ACTU g75 years g working women’S unstoppable march

Over the last century, women have transformed the workplace through their struggle for equal pay and the right to work. Union women led the way over those decades and are still fighting today to have a flexible balance between work and family life properly recognised in the modern workplace.

g Early Years Prior to World War Two, working women were excluded from craft-based unions because they were regarded as unskilled. They formed their own unions such as the Shirt and Collarmakers, the Confectioners, Liquor Trades and the Garment Workers. They were not well paid, earning just 54% of the male Basic Wage. It was nearly 70 years after the Harvester Judgement that the principle of equal pay was finally accepted in law. In those early years of unrelenting high unemployment, male- dominated unions and the ACTU feared the entry of women into the workforce would dilute wages and put men out of work. But World War Two necessitated the large scale recruitment of women into Equal pay lasted only as long dedicated to their industry and services, urged as the war, but it was work. by the government and enough to start a cultural Unions, however, were cautiously agreed to by shift. Having tasted a degree now in favour of unions. of financial independence “equal pay for equal women were more confident work” with the threat “Women must be of their place in the world of of unemployment permitted to come into work. The economic long gone. industry only upon such expansion of the 50s and 60s meant there was more principles and conditions In 1969 the ACTU took than enough jobs — in fact a a Female Rates Case to Vida Goldstein — that when men return to shortage of labour. the Commission, with one of Australia’s Australia they will not partial success. But equal pay was still out of leading suffragettes find their positions Another case in 1972 reach. Employers, courts and and an early prejudiced because it is finally secured an campaigner for the Menzies Government equal minimum rate cheaper to keep women in equal rights in the argued it would ruin the for all women and workplace certain jobs…” economy and women were men, to be phased in — Percy Clarey, ACTU President less productive and less by 1975.

15 g ACTU g75 years g “If we’re supporting affirmative action and its application in the wider context of society, then the union movement has an obligation to put its own house in order in terms of female representation.” —Jennie George, Women at Work, December 1985

working women’S unstoppable march In 2000, 16 years after Jennie George was elected the first woman Executive member, the ACTU Executive achieved equal representation of women and men.

g Women’s right to work Many women were also denied the right to work. It wasn’t until 1963 that unions achieved the abolition of bans on married women holding permanent jobs in the public sector. In 1966 women made up just over 30% of the workforce, and only 22% of union members. Today, women make up 43% of the workforce and 42% of unionists. Significantly, over 70% of women of childbearing age work. Not only are mothers working, they are taking less time out after giving birth. g A More Flexible Working World In 1977 the ACTU adopted its Working Women’s Charter to bolster women’s right to work. Campaigns for workplace reform to accommodate family responsibilities, which still fall largely to women, became and remain a priority for the ACTU. In 1979 the ACTU won a Maternity Leave Test Case, which provided 52 weeks unpaid leave for women, and job protection during pregnancy and maternity. In 1984, the same year Jennie George joined the ACTU Executive, the Hawke Government outlawed discrimination in employment on the basis of gender. In 1985 the ACTU successfully extended unpaid leave to adopting mothers, and in 1990 to fathers. In 1995 the ACTU won 5 days special family leave for workers caring for an ill family member In 2003 the ACTU is planning another test case to g extend the period of unpaid parental leave g improve the right to part time work g provide workers with flexibility to vary their work patterns to accommodate family responsibilities.

17 g ACTU g75 years It seemed a good idea at the time… g The Basic Wage Unless great multitudes of people are to be Harvester Judgement 1907 – the Basic Wage “irretrievably injured in themselves or in their In 1907, Henry Bourne Higgins, President of the Arbitration Court, decided 7 shillings a families, unless society is to be perpetually in g Wages day was a “fair and reasonable wage for an unskilled labourer to maintain himself and industrial unrest, it is necessary to keep this his family in frugal comfort.” A fair go and a dignified, secure standard of He added on another 3s/day, a “margin for living wage as a thing sacrosanct, beyond the living for working people is the core business of skill”, for a tradesman. – Justice Higgins Australian unions. For 75 years the ACTU has At the time it was a 27% increase on the reach of bargaining. average low-paid salary and was to set a played a pivotal role in the redistribution of safety net for wages for the next century. ” wealth and the drive towards a fairer society.

1922 1927 1930s 1937 1950 1953 1967 72–75 76–80 81–82 83–96 1997

Living Wage Wages freeze, Case to the Arbitration Court indexation determine award Wages indexed to the cost of Basic wage with acknowledged the suspended minimum rates living, automatic quarterly separate Wages recovering economy and of pay. Since that adjustments introduced margins for skill indexed to for the first time time the ACTU rolled into a inflation combined the 2 wage- The Accord ended the turbulent cycle of has achieved a single “total fixing principles by setting wage break-outs and inflation that real increase in The ACTU takes a Basic Wage based on wage” marked the previous decade, particularly Partial Indexation minimum wages responsibility for needs with “a prosperity the Fraser years. It boosted employment the Basic Wage Case of 7.6%, loading” added on. and improved the “social wage” , raising including an $18 the living standards of working people Quarterly a week increase chiefly through medicare, welfare and adjustments in 2002 – the family payments, and housing abandoned. largest for almost 20 years Foster’s one pound — Capacity to pay supercedes The Depression 2 judges of the Arbitration Court were split between extreme wages based on The Higgins principle that wages should be positions: no increase versus 1 need. Decision 1983–97 determined by need was eclipsed in 1930 by a new pound, considered a large sum later reversed principle that wages be set according to industry’s at the time. Employers were twice and the economy’s ability to pay. infuriated when a third judge In the shadow of Depression, a coalition of ruled in favour of Justice Foster’s employers claimed they were facing “the gravest generous increase economic emergency in the history of the Commonwealth” and applied to have the Basic 1983–97 1987 1989 Wage and 31 awards slashed. From February 1931, with the Depression at its deepest, workers suffered a 10% across the board indexation two tier structural wage cut. The Basic Wage no longer represented an system – efficiency unassailable standard based on the needs of a second tier principle – award working man and his family. dependent on restructuring, productivity Outraged unions called it a swindle and urged a minimum rates adjustment General Strike. Communist critics declared capitalism a failure and called the ACTU a “strike breaking institution” that was delaying revolution. 1991 1993– The ACTU argued in vain that workers had been disproportionately burdened. It took several years to restore the cut. Commission Enterprise rejects ACTU bargaining submission for commences enterprise 19 g ACTU g75 years bargaining g international g indigenous australia

The ACTU actively participates in international forums and ell into the twentieth century, the wages and working conditions of supports actions of solidarity with working people all over the indigenous Australians reflected the appalling social conditions imposed upon them since white settlement. Many worked as world fighting for freedom and dignity. unpaid labourers in the bush or were raised to work as domestic slaves. Some did belong to unions, particularly miners, shearers and waterside workers and were involved in many industrial campaigns. A camp was established on traditional and blockades finally forced the W land and in 1975, Prime Minister French to abandon testing at Muroroa Gough Whitlam returned the land to in 1996. From this pan-Pacific Vincent Lingiari, one of the traditional campaign, the South Pacific and owners. It was a celebrated Oceania Council of Trade Unions breakthrough in the fight for self- was born. determination. The ACTU and unions g East Timor all over Australia supported the Australian unions have consistently Aboriginal claim through many years supported the struggle for self- of protest. determination in our region. Maritime g Land Rights unions blockaded Dutch shipping in In 1979, unionists lined up with support of Indonesia’s struggle for In 1937, the ACTU made appeals for Aboriginals and church leaders in an The ACTU, through its aid organisation independence following World War humanitarian assistance during the attempt to halt a convoy of police and APHEDA, has played a large part in Two. Since 1975 Australian unions, Spanish Civil War mining trucks heading for sacred land providing aid to restore damage done through their own overseas aid in W.A.’s Kimberley region, where the to the Vietnamese people. agency, APHEDA, have also stood by g ILO state government had approved a CRA g Amandla – Ngawhetu! the East Timorese people intheir fight The ACTU — represented by former drilling project. Power to the People! The stirring call for independence. During the President Albert Monk — was a key for liberation by black South Africans Indonesian occupation, APHEDA The protestors failed to stop CRA, but participant at foundation meetings of established a radio station in Darwin the protest threw the land rights issue the International Labour Organisation. to help Timorese scholars codify and into sharp relief around Australia. The ACTU has continued to play a preserve the indigenous language, g Reconciliation leading role in the ILO as well as other Tetum. Post-independence, APHEDA is During 1980s and ‘90s, the ACTU and international bodies such as the teaching radio skills and contributing unions supported the reconciliation International Confederation of Free to trade union development in the process initiated by the Hawke Trade Unions and the advisory body to fledgling East Timorese nation. the OECD, TUAC. Government and fully backed the Mabo legislation in 1993. g Vietnam Many unions were strongly committed In more recent years, the union to ending Australia’s participation in g The Pilbara g Wave Hill movement has supported calls for the Vietnam War and this provoked In 1947 Aboriginal stockmen went on In 1965, the North Australian Workers recognition of the Stolen Generations, spirited debate among ACTU affiliates strike over pay and land claims in the Union launched a case for equal pay. as well as a national apology to those over tactics, particularly the use of resonated deeply with Australian Pilbara. With the support of West The Arbitration Commission delayed whose lives were damaged by forced industrial action. trade unionists from the early 1960s. Australian unions, the sheep industry the case for 2 years sparking a walkout removal from their families under ACTU support for consumer boycotts in that state was brought to a by Aboriginal workers at Lord Vestey’s government policy of the of South African products started at standstill for three years. Wave Hill station. last century. this time and union action intensified Unions are helping rebuild an Although the strike leaders were with the 1971 Springbok tour. The independent East Timor jailed, the strikers went on to form a protest continued till the ANC, mining company and bought 2 large strongly backed by the South African g pastoral holdings — a huge advance in Council of Trade Unions, ousted the APHEDA APHEDA assists workers struggling for the fight for self-determination. racist regime from power. their rights, through around 50 g “Jedda” g Creating an Anti-nuclear Pacific projects and project partners. It aims In 1955, before the filming of the Over 3 decades Australian unions were to improve the opportunities and Australian cinema classic “Jedda”, prominent international leaders in the options of disadvantaged women, Actors Equity ensured that Aboriginal fight against French nuclear testing in refugees and HIV/AIDS sufferers. actors were adequately represented the Pacific. Coordinated action with APHEDA also provides education for and remunerated. our Pacific neighbours including bans indigenous people and child labourers.

21 g ACTU g75 years IN COMPILING THIS BOOKLET, THE ACTU COMMUNICATIONS UNIT RELIED HEAVILY ON PROFESSOR JIM HAGAN’S OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE ACTU, A METICULOUSLY RESEARCHED BOOK, PRINTED IN 1980. WE ARE GREATLY INDEBTED TO PROFESSOR HAGAN. IF NOT FOR HIS EFFORTS, MUCH OF THE DETAIL OF DECADES PAST MIGHT HAVE BEEN LOST. FOR PROVIDING PHOTOS AND GREAT ASSISTANCE, THE ACTU COMMUNICATIONS UNIT WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK: NOEL BUTLIN ARCHIVES, AUST NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, CANBERRA – EMMA JOLLEY (SEN.ARCHIVIST), PENNIE PEMBERTON AND DEIDRE WARD; VICTORIAN TRADES HALL COUNCIL LIBRARY – SARAH BROWN; MITCHELL LIBRARY, STATE LIBRARY OF NSW; STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA– LATROBE COLLECTION; NATIONAL LIBRARY; CARTOONIST GEOFF PRYOR AND THE CANBERRA TIMES; PULSE DESIGN, SYDNEY –TRISTAN RIGUET; ACTU STAFF; UNIONS BANNERS COURTESY OF LABOR COUNCIL OF NSW. COMPILED AND EDITED BY THE ACTU COMMUNICATIONS UNIT: GIULIA BAGGIO, NOEL HESTER, VOULA PASCHALIS, STEPHANIE AUTY, JEREMY VERMEESCH, PETER LAKE, DUNCAN BUSHELL AND GINA PRESTON. THIS BOOKLET IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A COMPREHENSIVE ACTU HISTORY. FOR A MORE COMPLETE ACCOUNT, WE RECOMMEND A SHORT HISTORY OF THE ACTU OR THEHISTORYOFTHEACTU, BOTH BY PROFESSOR HAGAN.