The Boilermakers' Society of Australia was a trade union in Australia which existed from 1911 until 1965. It was established as the Federated Society of Boilermakers & Iron Shipbuilders of Australia in 1911, operating as a federation of pre-existing state unions. The union attained federal registration on 30 November 1911. The union had an early dispute with the

Federated Ironworkers' Association of Australia The Federated Ironworkers' Association of Australia (FIA) was an Australian trade union which existed between 1911 and 1991. It represented labourers and semi-skilled workers employed in the steel industry and ironworking, and later also the che ...

before it had even attained federal registration, unsuccessfully opposing the Ironworkers' registration by arguing that the Boilermakers' in fact represented more iron workers and citing concerns that the Ironworkers' registration might prevent other iron workers' unions, including their own, from registering. It did, however, obtain a condition that no mechanic who was eligible to join the Boilermakers' Society could join the Ironworkers' Association. The union was renamed the Federated Society of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders & Structural Iron & Steel Workers of Australia in 1929 and again to the Boilermakers Society of Australia in 1937. In 1956, the union challenged a punitive decision from the

Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration The Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration was an Australian court that operated from 1904 to 1956 with jurisdiction to hear and arbitrate interstate industrial disputes, and to make awards. It also had the judicial functions of i ...

in the High Court of Australia in the case of

R v Kirby; Ex parte Boilermakers' Society of Australia ''R v Kirby; Ex parte Boilermakers' Society of Australia'',. known as the ''Boilermakers' Case'', was a 1956 decision of the High Court of Australia which considered the powers of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration to punish ...

. The union won, resulting in the powers of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration being found to be unconstitutional and the subsequent abolition and replacement of the Court, in a particularly important case for the determination of the

separation of powers Separation of powers refers to the division of a state's government into branches, each with separate, independent powers and responsibilities, so that the powers of one branch are not in conflict with those of the other branches. The typic ...

in Australia.. It merged with the Blacksmiths' Society of Australia in 1965 to form the Boilermakers and Blacksmiths Society of Australia.

References

Defunct trade unions of Australia Metal trade unions 1911 establishments in Australia Trade unions established in 1911 Trade unions disestablished in 1965 1965 disestablishments in Australia {{Australia-trade-union-stub

See also

References