Professional Divers' Association of Australia was an Australian trade union which existed between 1969 and 1991.
[Huntley, Pat and Huntley, Ian. (1985). "''Inside Australia's Top 100 Trade Union''". Northbridge:Ian Huntley Pty. Ltd. ][Smith, Bruce A. created 4 November 2001, last modified 12 December 2002. ''Trade Union Entry: Professional Divers Association of Australia''. "http://www.atua.org.au/biogs/ALE0715b.htm" Australian Trade Union Archives. Retrieved 5 October 2011.] The union had coverage of all workers employed underwater in Australia, principally as
professional diver
Professional diving is underwater diving where the divers are paid for their work. The procedures are often regulated by legislation and codes of practice as it is an inherently hazardous occupation and the diver works as a member of a team. Du ...
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Formation
The PDAA was established on 1 May 1969 at a meeting of several divers, dissatisfied over the lack of job security in the diving industry, Occupational Health and Safety issues, and the significantly lower wages received by Australian divers compared to their overseas counterparts.[ Despite starting from a low membership base, the union achieved registration in 1971, following strike action in 1970 over the dismissal of several union officials by employers.][
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Industrial Disputes
The PDAA was strongly active in maintaining and improving its members working conditions, and undertook several strikes during its history. One of the largest was an eight-month strike in 1974 over wages and facilities.[
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Amalgamation
The union first began considering amalgamation following the Hancock Enquiry, which recommended that all trade unions with less than 1000 members be required to justify their continued registration. The union eventually amalgamated with the Seamen's Union of Australia
The Seamen's Union of Australia (SUA) was the principal trade union for merchant seamen in Australia from 1876 to 1991. The SUA developed a reputation as one of the most militant trade unions in Australia and was closely associated with the ...
(SUA) in 1991 shortly before the SUA itself merged with the Waterside Workers' Federation
The Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia (WWF) was an Australian trade union that existed from 1902 to 1993. After a period of negotiations between other Australian maritime unions, it was federated in 1902 and first federally registered ...
to form the Maritime Union of Australia
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) was a union which covered waterside workers, seafarers, port workers, professional divers, and office workers associated with Australian ports. The MUA was formed in 1993 with merger of the Seamen's Union ...
(MUA). The MUA continues to provide representation for professional divers in Australia.[Maritime Union of Australia. ''Diving Industry'' "https://mua.org.au/industry/diving". Retrieved 26 May 2021.]
References
{{Reflist
External links
www.mua.org.au
Website of the Maritime Union of Australia, which has succeeded the PDAA.
Defunct trade unions of Australia
Maritime trade unions
Trade unions established in 1969
Trade unions disestablished in 1991
Diver organizations