UnionsWA is the peak
Trades and Labour Council A labour council, trades council or industrial council is an association of labour unions or union branches in a given area. Most commonly, they represent unions in a given geographical area, whether at the district, city, region, or provincial or ...
in
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
. It represents over 30 affiliated unions, which have over 150,000 members in Western Australia.
The council is affiliated with the
Australian Council of Trade Unions
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), originally the Australasian Council of Trade Unions, is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions and eight trades and l ...
(ACTU).
Name changes
In April 2000, the Trades & Labor Council of Western Australia became simply UnionsWA, to coincide with the consolidation of various union based operations within Western Australia and the opening of "Unity House" on May Day, 2000.
1891 - The Trades & Labor Council, Perth was formed in 1891 and operated as such until 1907 when it re-emerged as the Western Australian Branch of the Australian Labour Federation.
1927 - Twenty years later, in 1927, it was operating as the Australian Labor Party (WA).
1947 - It continued in this guise for another twenty years when, in 1947, the name was changed once more, this time to the Trade Unions Industrial Council (ALP, WA) to more accurately delineate its trade union role from the political motives of the labour movement.
1963 - The Trade Unions Industrial Council (ALP, WA) was deregistered and the Trades & Labor Council of Western Australia was formed to fill the void.
Although still acknowledged today as the Trades & Labor Council of Western Australia, an increasing association with "
white collar" unions had, by 2000, deemed this old title unreflective of all affiliated unions.
2000 - The Trades & Labor Council became UnionsWA to more adequately encompass both white and blue collar unions.
2013 - The council's trading name becomes UnionsWA Inc.
Structure
UnionsWA is the state's peak union body representing over 30 affiliated unions and their members. Delegates meet monthly to consider issues affecting the working conditions of Western Australians and determine strategies to improve them. The offices of UnionsWA are located at 445 Hay Street, Perth. UnionsWA is the supreme governing body of the trade union movement in Western Australia.
The present office holders are:
* Acting secretary: Owen Whittle
* President: Steve McCartney (
Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), or more fully the Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union, is an Australian trade union. The AMWU represents a broad range of workers in the manufacturing se ...
)
* Senior vice-president: Carolyn Smith (
United Voice
United Voice was a large Australian trade union, with over 130,000 members. United Voice members worked in a wide range of occupations including hospitality, childcare, teachers' aides, aged care, property services (cleaning, security, maintenan ...
)
Solidarity Park
UnionsWA is responsible for the use, upkeep, and maintenance of
Solidarity Park
Solidarity Park is located opposite Parliament House in Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a ...
, opposite the
Parliament House in
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...
.
Originally named the Workers' Embassy, the park was established in 1997 as part of the 6-month occupation of the site in protest against the
Court Liberal Government's industrial relations legislation.
The Mark Allen Memorial Wall at the park commemorates all killed and injured workers, with the
International Workers' Memorial Day WA service held annually in April.
See also
*
Australian labour movement
The Australian labour movement began in the early 19th century and since the late 19th century has included industrial (Australian unions) and political wings (Australian Labor Party). Trade unions in Australia may be organised (i.e., formed) o ...
*
Trades Hall
*
Perth Trades Hall
The Perth Trades Hall is a historic trades hall building in Perth, Western Australia that has been occupied by various organisations of the Western Australian trade union movement. The building is now the WA headquarters of the Construction, F ...
*
Trade union
A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ...
*
Victorian Trades Hall Council
The Victorian Trades Hall Council (VTHC) is a representative body of trade union organisations, known as a labour council, in the state of Victoria, Australia. It comprises 43 affiliated trade unions and professional associations, and eight reg ...
References
External links
Official website
Further reading
* Layman, Lenore.(and Julian Goddard; with the assistance of Wendy Wise and Robin Ho) (1988) ''Organise! : a visual record of the labour movement in Western Australia'' East Perth, W.A : Trades and Labor Council of W.A
* Oliver, Bobbie, (2003) ''Unity is strength : a history of the Australian Labor Party and the Trades and Labor Council in Western Australia, 1899-1999'' Perth WA : API Network, Australia Research Institute, Curtin University. {{ISBN, 1-920845-01-1
Trade unions in Western Australia