The Union T SHirt

886-1887:

• Formation of Australasian Shearers’ Union (ASU) by William Guthrie Spence and David Temple, headquartered in Creswick, Victoria.

• ASU amalgamates with unions in Creswick, Bourke, and Wagga Wagga, forming the Amalgamated Shearers’ Union of Australia (ASU), with Spence as President and Temple as Secretary.

1888-1894:

• ASU grows rapidly across the colonies, with membership reaching 20,000.

• Establishment of the iconic Brisbane Worker newspaper.

• ASU expands, and in 1891, forms the General Labourers’ Union for shed-hands and rural workers.

• 1892 sees the birth of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in Queensland, tied closely to the union movement.

• 1894: Formation of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) through the amalgamation of ASU and the General Labourers’ Union.

1895-1907:

• Economic depression causes membership to decline sharply.

• AWU recovers, gaining representation in political spheres and becoming the largest union in Australia by 1904 with the AWUQ amalgamation.

• In 1907, the AWU secures a major wage increase through the first Federal Pastoral Industry Award.

1910-1927:

• The AWU supports political figures like Andrew Fisher and Billy Hughes in leading Australia.

• Despite divisions over conscription during WWI, the AWU emerges as the most powerful union in Australia by 1917.

• In 1927, the AWU declines to affiliate with the newly formed Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).

1930s-1940s:

• The Great Depression causes internal conflicts and a split within the Labor Party.

• Under the leadership of Clarrie Fallon and later “Big” Tom Dougherty, the AWU grows in influence during WWII, supporting the Curtin government’s efforts.

• In 1947, the 40-hour workweek is achieved in Australia, supported by the AWU.

1950s-1970s:

• The 1950s and 60s see significant industrial action, such as the shearers’ strikes and the Mount Isa dispute.

• In 1967, the AWU finally affiliates with the ACTU after years of opposition.

• By the 1970s, the AWU abandons its White Australia policy and becomes a strong supporter of Labor governments.

1980s-1990s:

• The 1980s and 90s are marked by amalgamations with other unions, including the Federated Ironworkers’ Association (FIMEE) in 1993, creating the AWU-FIMEE Amalgamated Union.

• Industrial challenges, such as the introduction of “wide comb” shears, lead to strikes but ultimately modernize the shearing industry.

2000s-present:

• Bill Shorten becomes National Secretary in 2001, overseeing a period of union activism, including the long-running campaign for Ansett workers’ entitlements.

• Paul Howes is elected National Secretary in 2007 and helps lead the union’s campaign against WorkChoices, as well as organizing previously de-unionized workplaces like Rio Tinto Bell Bay.

This timeline highlights the AWU’s role in shaping Australia’s labor landscape and its deep connections with the ALP.

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