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{{Short description|Australian national trade union organisation}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox union
{{Refimprove|date=December 2006}}
| name = ACTU
{{Primary sources|date=December 2006}}
| location_country = [[Australia]]
{{Infobox Union
| affiliation = [[ITUC]], [[Australian Labor Party|ALP]]
|name= ACTU
| full_name = Australian Council of Trade Unions
|country= [[Australia]]
| native_name =
|affiliation= [[ITUC]]
|full_name= Australian Council of Trade Unions
| image = Australian Council of Trade Unions logo.svg
| founded = {{start date and age|1927|5}}<ref>Donn, C. B., & Dunkley, G. (1977). The Founding of the ACTU: The Origins of a Central Trade Union Federation. Journal of Industrial Relations, 19(4), 404–423. https://doi.org/10.1177/002218567701900405</ref>
|native_name=
| dissolved =
|image= [[Image:Australian Council of Trade Unions (logo).png]]
| merged =
|founded= 1927
| headquarters = [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]
|current=
| key_people = {{plainlist|
|head=
*[[Sally McManus]] (Secretary)
|dissolved_date=
*[[Michele O'Neil]] (President)
|dissolved_state=
|merged_into=
|office= [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]
|people= [[Ged Kearney]], President <br /> [[Jeff Lawrence (unionist)|Jeff Lawrence]], Secretary
|website= [http://www.actu.asn.au www.actu.org.au]
|footnotes=
}}
}}
| website = {{ubl|{{URL|https://www.actu.org.au/}}|{{URL|https://www.australianunions.org.au/}}}}
<!-- Include all unused fields for future use. See [[template talk:Infobox Union]] for usage. -->
}}
{{labor|sp=uk}}
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 [[trade union|unions]] and eight trades and labour councils. The ACTU is a member of the [[International Trade Union Confederation]].


The President of the ACTU is [[Michele O'Neil]], who was elected on 28 July 2018. The current Secretary is [[Sally McManus]].
The '''Australian Council of Trade Unions''' ('''ACTU''') is the largest [[peak body]] representing workers in [[Australia]]. It is a [[national trade union centre]] of 46 affiliated [[trade union|union]]s.


==History==
==Objectives==
The objectives of the ACTU, found in its constitution, are:
The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions". It was one of the earliest attempts by trade unions to apply the principles of [[One Big Union (concept)|One Big Union]] earlier explored by more radical [[syndicalism|syndicalist]] unions like the [[Confederación Nacional del Trabajo|CNT]] or revolutionary [[industrial unionism|industrial union]]s like the [[Industrial Workers of the World|IWW]].
* the [[Social ownership|socialisation]] of industry,
* the organisation of wage and salary earners in the Australian workforce (within the trade union movement),
* the utilisation of Australian resources to maintain full employment, establish equitable living standards which increase in line with output, and create opportunities for the development of talent.


==Organisation==
In the Australian case, agitation for One Big Union occurred from 1911 from two different sectors: from the revolutionary Australian section of the IWW and from the pro-[[arbitration]] [[Australian Workers Union]] (AWU). At that time the AWU was the largest single Australian union. In 1918 after the collapse of the Australian IWW, a group of militant trade unions (which were opposed to the AWU) attempted to form One Big Union under the name [[Workers Industrial Union of Australia]] (WIUA). The hostility between the WIUA and the AWU prevented the formation of One Big Union in Australia. It was the attempts of [[Stanley Bruce]]'s federal government in 1927 to dismantle the [[Australian Industrial Relations Commission]] which impelled the Australian trade unions to form a national council.
The ACTU holds a biennial congress that is attended by approximately 800 delegates from affiliated organisations. Between congresses the ACTU is governed by an executive of 60 members: the president, the two vice-presidents, the secretary, the assistant secretaries, Trades and Labour Council representatives from each capital city and elected delegates from affiliated unions.
[[Image:Melbourne Trades Hall entrance.jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[Melbourne Trades Hall]] in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] is the "birthplace" of the ACTU]]
The ACTU's Australian trade union "peak body" precursors include state [[labour council]]s like the [[Victorian Trades Hall Council]] (originating in 1856 as the 'Melbourne Trades Hall Committee'), the [[Labor Council of New South Wales]] (originally formed in 1870 as the 'Sydney Trades and Labor Council') and the Inter-Colonial Trade Union Congress (formed in 1879).


==Current campaigns==
The ACTU has not achieved the ideals expressed for One Big Union: it remains a council organisation, but it does however represent the majority of Australian trade unions.
The ACTU's main current campaigns<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.australianunions.org.au/campaigns/|title=Campaigns|website=Australian Unions}}</ref> include the campaign to win paid pandemic leave for all workers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the For the workers campaign<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fortheworkers.australianunions.org.au/home|title=For the workers &#124; Australian Unions|website=fortheworkers.australianunions.org.au}}</ref> to oppose Commonwealth Government proposals to change Australian workplace laws, and the promotion of a Working from Home Charter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://action.australianunions.org.au/working-from-home-charter|title=Working From Home Charter &#124; Australian Unions|website=action.australianunions.org.au}}</ref>
At its formation in 1927 the ACTU was only seen as representing blue collar trades unions, and only managed to achieve the support of trades unions. From 1948 peak bodies of white collar associations existed, and from 1969 peak bodies of government employees. The white collar bodies were: the [[Council of Professional and Commercial Employees Association]] (1948), which became the [[Council of White Collar Associations]] (1954), which amalgamated with the [[Salaried Employees Consultative Council of New South Wales]] (1954) to become the [[Australian Council of Salaried and Professional Associations]] (ACSPA) in 1956. The government employee bodies were: the [[Council of Commonwealth Public Service Organisations]] (1969) which became the [[Council of Australian Government Employee Organisations]] (CAGEO) in 1975. The ACTU successfully integrated these bodies in 1981. After 1981 the ACTU was generally viewed by the Australian media and public as the organisation representing all workers' organisations.
[[Image:GregCombet.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Greg Combet]], Former Secretary of the ACTU, speaking on 2 November 2005 shortly after the Government introduced its ''WorkChoices'' legislation into the Australian Parliament.]]
The ACTU and Labour Councils have often united Australian working class opinion behind certain initiatives like the [[eight-hour day]] or compulsory arbitration. In the early 1980s this unifying impulse created an accord between government, capital and labour on wages and prices. The ACTU retains a close relationship with the [[Australian Labor Party]]: former ACTU President [[Bob Hawke]] went on to become the leader of the ALP and then [[Prime Minister of Australia]]. Other former ACTU Presidents who went on to become members of Federal Parliament are: [[Simon Crean]] (president 1985-90), [[Martin Ferguson]] (1990–96), and [[Jennie George]] (1996–99). The November 2007 election win by the Labor Party, saw the election of a number of union officials to the parliament (Commonwealth) including [[Bill Shorten]] (Australian Workers Union) and [[Greg Combet]] (former ACTU Secretary).


Following the [[2007 Australian federal election]], the ACTU's primary focus was the campaign to restore workers rights under the banner of the Your Rights at Work campaign.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.australianunions.org.au/|title=Australian Unions - We're for workers|website=Australian Unions}}</ref> In addition to this campaign the ACTU is also running a number of other campaigns, including workplace health and safety,<ref>[http://www.actu.asn.au/OccupationalHealthSafety/Campaigns/HighestStandardsforHarmonisedOHSLawsPetition.aspx ACTU Health and Safety pages] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902231102/http://www.actu.asn.au/OccupationalHealthSafety/Campaigns/HighestStandardsforHarmonisedOHSLawsPetition.aspx |date=2 September 2008 }}</ref> working with other unions on the Your Rights at Telstra campaign and supporting the Rights on Site<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rightsonsite.org.au/ |title=Rights on Site website |publisher=Rightsonsite.org.au |access-date=2010-07-20}}</ref> campaign.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s the ACTU was influential in a move to forcibly amalgamate smaller unions into so called "super unions". The ACTU's plans envisaged 20 super unions organised on an industrial basis. While a large number of amalgamations occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s (in part under the influence of changed industrial law), there are still a large number of unions, and union coverage is often organised by historical amalgamation, not by industry.


The ACTU has also launched a service by which workers can join their applicable union directly through the ACTU. This self-titled "one stop shop" for union membership is Australian Unions.<ref>[http://www.australianunions.org.au/join Australian Unions]. Retrieved 5 July 2013.</ref>
The current president is Ged Kearney.


In 2008, the ACTU launched a campaign to make paid maternity leave a new national employment standard.<ref>[http://www.actu.org.au/Campaigns/PaidParentalLeave/default.aspx Paid Parental Leave] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713235140/http://www.actu.org.au/Campaigns/PaidParentalLeave/default.aspx |date=13 July 2013 }} ACTU. Retrieved 5 July 2013.</ref>
==Organisation==


In 2011, the ACTU launched a campaign to address the spread of casual, contract and other forms of insecure work in Australian workplaces.<ref>(16 May 2012) Joe Kelly.[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/industrial-relations/actu-out-to-reverse-work-casualisation-improve-bargaining-power/story-fn59noo3-1226357513342 ACTU out to reverse work 'casualisation', improve bargaining power]. ''The Australian''. News Limited. Retrieved 5 July 2013.</ref> Part of this involved an inquiry into insecure work.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/industrial-relations/stoush-brews-over-full-time-job-orders/story-fn59noo3-1226354367022|title=Stoush brews over full-time job orders}}</ref>
The ACTU holds a biennial congress that is attended by approximately 800 delegates from affiliated organisations. Between congresses the ACTU is governed by an executive of 60 members: the president, the two vice-presidents, the secretary, the assistant secretaries, Trades and Labour Council representatives from each capitial city and elected delegates from affiliated unions.


In 2023, the ACTU and other big unions including the Health Services Union, and the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union began a campaign calling for a levy to be imposed on non-union workers after the union was able to raise wages through collective bargaining.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Angus |date=2023-01-10 |title=Unions push for a wage deal levy for non-members |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/unions-push-for-a-wage-deal-levy-for-non-members-20230109-p5cbbv.html |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref>
==Objectives==


==History==
The objectives of the ACTU, as stated in its constitution, are as follows:
{{citation needed section|date=November 2021}}
[[File:Melbourne Trades Hall entrance.jpg|thumb|[[Melbourne Trades Hall]] in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] is the "birthplace" of the ACTU]]
In Australia, agitation for [[One Big Union (concept)|One Big Union]] took place from 1911 from two different sectors: from the revolutionary Australian section of the [[Industrial Workers of the World|IWW]] and from the pro-[[arbitration]] [[Australian Workers Union]] (AWU). At that time the AWU was the largest single Australian union. In 1918 after the collapse of the Australian IWW, a group of militant trade unions (which were opposed to the AWU) attempted to form One Big Union under the name [[Workers Industrial Union of Australia]] (WIUA). The hostility between the WIUA and the AWU prevented the formation of One Big Union in Australia. The ACTU was formed as the Australasian Council of Trade Unions in 1927 and was one of the earliest attempts by trade unions to apply the principles of One Big Union earlier explored by more radical [[syndicalism|syndicalist]] unions like the [[Confederación Nacional del Trabajo|CNT]] or revolutionary [[industrial unionism|industrial unions]] like the IWW. The ACTU has not achieved the ideals expressed for One Big Union: it remains a council organisation, but it does however represent the majority of Australian trade unions. At its formation in 1927 the ACTU was only seen as representing blue collar trades unions, and only managed to achieve the support of trades unions.


Attempts of Nationalist [[Stanley Bruce]]'s federal government in 1927 to dismantle the [[Australian Industrial Relations Commission]] impelled Australian trade unions to form a national council. The ACTU's Australian trade union "peak body" precursors include state [[labour council]]s like the [[Victorian Trades Hall Council]] (originating in 1856 as the 'Melbourne Trades Hall Committee'), the [[Labor Council of New South Wales]] (originally formed in 1870 as the 'Sydney Trades and Labor Council') and the Inter-Colonial Trade Union Congress (formed in 1879).
*The socialisation of industry;
*Organisation of wage and salary earners in the Australian workforce (within the trade union movement);
*The utilisation of Australian resources to maintain full employment, establish equitable living standards which increase inline with output, and create opportunities for the development of talent.


[[File:Bob_Hawke_1970.jpg|thumb|150px|left|[[Bob Hawke]], ACTU President in 1970.]]From 1948 peak bodies of white collar associations existed, and from 1969 peak bodies of government employees. The white collar bodies were: the [[Council of Professional and Commercial Employees Association]] (1948), which became the [[Council of White Collar Associations]] (1954), which amalgamated with the [[Salaried Employees Consultative Council of New South Wales]] (1954) to become the [[Australian Council of Salaried and Professional Associations]] (ACSPA) in 1956. The government employee bodies were: the [[Council of Commonwealth Public Service Organisations]] (1969) which became the [[Council of Australian Government Employee Organisations]] (CAGEO) in 1975. The ACTU successfully integrated these bodies in 1981. After 1981 the ACTU was generally viewed by the Australian media and public as the organisation representing all workers' organisations.
==Current campaigns==
[[File:GregCombet.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Greg Combet]], Then Secretary of the ACTU, speaking on 2 November 2005 shortly after the Government introduced its ''WorkChoices'' legislation into the Australian Parliament.]]
The ACTU and Labour Councils have often united Australian working class opinion behind certain initiatives like the [[eight-hour day]] or [[compulsory arbitration]]. In the early 1980s this unifying impulse created the [[Prices and Incomes Accord]]. The ACTU retains a close relationship with the [[Australian Labor Party]]: former ACTU President [[Bob Hawke]] went on to become the leader of the ALP and then [[Prime Minister of Australia]]. Other former ACTU Presidents who went on to become members of Federal Parliament are: [[Simon Crean]] (president 1985–90), [[Martin Ferguson (politician)|Martin Ferguson]] (1990–96), [[Jennie George]] (1996–99), and [[Ged Kearney]] (2010–18). The November 2007 election win by the Labor Party, saw the election of a number of union officials to the parliament (Commonwealth) including [[Bill Shorten]] (Australian Workers Union) and [[Greg Combet]] (former ACTU Secretary).


In the late 1980s and early 1990s the ACTU was influential in a move to forcibly amalgamate smaller unions into so called "super unions". The ACTU's plans envisaged 20 super unions organised on an industrial basis. While many amalgamations occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s (in part under the influence of changed industrial law), there are still many unions, and union coverage is often organised by historical amalgamation, not by industry.
The ACTU's main focus since the 2007 Australian federal election has been its campaign to restore workers rights under the banner of the Your Rights at Work campaign <ref>http://www.rightsatwork.com.au</ref> In addition to this campaign the ACTU is also running a number of other campaigns, including workplace health and safety,<ref>[http://www.actu.asn.au/OccupationalHealthSafety/Campaigns/HighestStandardsforHarmonisedOHSLawsPetition.aspx ACTU Health and Safety pages]{{Dead link|date=July 2010}}</ref> working with other unions on the Your Rights at Telstra <ref>http://yourrightsattelstra.com</ref> campaign and supporting the Rights on Site <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rightsonsite.org.au/ |title=Rights on Site website |publisher=Rightsonsite.org.au |date= |accessdate=2010-07-20}}</ref> campaign.


== Past campaigns ==
The ACTU has also launched a service by which workers can join their applicable union directly through the ACTU. This self titled "one stop shop" for union membership is Unions Australia.<ref>[http://www.actu.asn.au/Campaigns/YourRightsatWork/YourRightsatWorknews/UnionstoBroadenIRCampaignwithLaunchofNewOneStopJoiningService.aspx Unions Australia website]{{Dead link|date=July 2010}}</ref>
In the lead up to the 2007 federal election, the ACTU campaigned actively against the [[Howard government]]'s [[WorkChoices]] legislation, which included an advertising campaign<ref>(14 July 2005) Heather Ewart. [http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2005/s1414669.htm Ads argue the case for and against IR changes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060105055738/http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2005/s1414669.htm |date=5 January 2006 }}. 7:30 Report. Australian Broadcasting Corporation</ref> and public rallies.<ref>- [http://rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns/nov30rally Rally information from Campaign website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212081533/http://rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns/nov30rally |date=12 February 2007 }}</ref> This campaign was originally called "Your Rights at Work" but is now known as "Secure Jobs. Better Future"<ref name="auto"/> and was considered a success in making industrial relations an important election issue by both marketing companies<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.essentialmedia.com.au/CaseStudies/ACTUWorkChoices/tabid/145/Default.aspx|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830051738/http://www.essentialmedia.com.au/CaseStudies/ACTUWorkChoices/tabid/145/Default.aspx|url-status=dead|title=Campaign Results|archivedate=30 August 2007}}</ref> and even [[Joe Hockey]] MP, the Federal Workplace Relations Minister, who said "This is the most sophisticated political plan that we have seen in Australia.".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2007/s1949620.htm |title=ABC transcript of radio interview with Joe Hockey |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=13 June 2007 |access-date=2010-07-20}}</ref> One of the rallies was called ''Fill the "G" '', attended by 50,000 people at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] and broadcast to other similar rallies throughout the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/ir-laws-just-not-cricket/2006/11/30/1164777686782.html |title=IR laws 'just not cricket' |publisher="The Age" |date= 30 November 2006|access-date=2010-07-20 |location=Melbourne |first=Jane |last=Holroyd}}</ref><ref>(30 November 2006) Reko Rennie. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/march-stops-city-traffic/2006/11/30/1164777693335.html March stops city traffic]. ''The Age''.</ref> A previous national rally had a reported attendance of 500,000 around Australia.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1506727.htm Thousands protest against IR laws] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105063728/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1506727.htm |date=5 January 2008 }}. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 November 2005.</ref><ref>[http://theage.com.au/news/national/protesters-engulf-melbourne-cbd/2005/11/15/1132016771730.html Protesters engulf Melbourne CBD]. ''The Age''. 15 November 2005. Cites 175,000 as Melbourne crowd size.</ref>


==Leadership==
In 2008, the ACTU launched a campaign to make Paid Maternity Leave a new national employment standard.<ref>[http://www.actu.asn.au/Campaigns/CurrentCampaigns/PaidMaternityLeave/default.aspx ACTU Paid Maternity Leave web page]{{Dead link|date=July 2010}}</ref>
===Presidents===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:95%"
|-
! No.
! Name
! Took post
! Left post
! Time
! Notes
|-
! align=center|1
|[[Billy Duggan]]
| align=center|1927
| align=center|1934
| align=center|7 years
|[[City of Coburg|Coburg]] [[councillor]] (1924–30); [[Mayor]] of [[City of Coburg|Coburg]] (1928–29).
|-
! align=center|2
|[[Albert Monk]], <small>[[Order of St Michael and St George|CMG]]</small>
| align=center|1934
| align=center|1943
| align=center|9 years
|[[#Secretaries|2nd]] Secretary of the ACTU.
|-
! align=center|3
|[[Percy Clarey]]
| align=center|1943
| align=center|1949
| align=center|6 years
|[[Member of Parliament|MP]] for [[Division of Bendigo|Bendigo]] (1949–60).
|-
! align=center|(2)
|Albert Monk, <small>CMG</small>
| align=center|1949
| align=center|1969
| align=center|20 years
|
|-
! align=center|4
|[[Bob Hawke]], <small>[[Order of Australia|AC]], [[Order of Logohu|GCL]]</small>
| align=center|1969
| align=center|1980
| align=center|11 years
|MP for [[Division of Wills|Wills]] (1980–92); [[Australian Labor Party National Executive#National Presidents|President of the Labor Party]] (1973–78); [[Leaders of the Australian Labor Party#ALP federal parliamentary leaders|Leader of the Labor Party]] (1983–91); [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)|Leader of the Opposition]] (1983); [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] (1983–91).
|-
! align=center|5
|[[Cliff Dolan]]
| align=center|1980
| align=center|1985
| align=center|5 years
|
|-
! align=center|6
|[[Simon Crean]]
| align=center|1985
| align=center|1990
| align=center|5 years
|MP for [[Division of Hotham|Hotham]] (1990–2013); [[Leaders of the Australian Labor Party#ALP federal deputy parliamentary leaders|Deputy Leader of the Labor Party]] (1998–2001); Leader of the Labor Party (2001–03).
|-
! align=center|7
|[[Martin Ferguson (politician)|Martin Ferguson]]
| align=center|1990
| align=center|1996
| align=center|6 years
|MP for [[Division of Batman|Batman]] (1996–2013).
|-
! align=center|8
|[[Jennie George]], <small>[[Order of Australia#Officer (AO)|AO]]</small>
| align=center|1996
| align=center|2000
| align=center|4 years
|MP for [[Division of Throsby|Throsby]] (2001–10).
|-
! align=center|9
|[[Sharan Burrow]], <small>[[Order of Australia#Companion (AC)|AC]]</small>
| align=center|2000
| align=center|2010
| align=center|10 years
|[[International Confederation of Free Trade Unions#Presidents|President]] of [[International Confederation of Free Trade Unions|ICFTU]] (2004–06); [[International Trade Union Confederation#Presidents|President]] of [[International Trade Union Confederation|ITUC]] (2006–10); [[International Trade Union Confederation#General Secretaries|General Secretary]] of ITUC (2010–2022).
|-
! align=center|10
|[[Ged Kearney]]
| align=center|1 July 2010
| align=center|2 February 2018
| align=center|{{ayd|1 July 2010|2 February 2018}}
|MP for Batman (2018–19); MP for [[Division of Cooper|Cooper]] (2019–present).
|-
! align=center|11
|[[Michele O'Neil]]
| align=center|17 July 2018
| align=center|''Incumbent''
| align=center|{{ayd|17 July 2018}}
|
|}


===Secretaries===
== Past campaigns ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:95%"
|-
! No.
! Name
! Took post
! Left post
! Time
! Notes
|-
! align=center|1
|[[Charlie Crofts]]
| align=center|1927
| align=center|1943
| align=center|16 years
|President of the [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor Party in Victoria]] (1926–27).
|-
! align=center|2
|[[Albert Monk]], <small>[[Order of St Michael and St George|CMG]]</small>
| align=center|1943
| align=center|1949
| align=center|6 years
|
|-
! align=center|3
|Reg Broadby
| align=center|1949
| align=center|1956
| align=center|7 years
|
|-
! align=center|4
|Harold Souter
| align=center|1956
| align=center|1977
| align=center|21 years
|
|-
! align=center|5
|Peter Nolan
| align=center|1977
| align=center|1983
| align=center|6 years
|
|-
! align=center|6
|[[Bill Kelty]], <small>[[Order of Australia#Companion (AC)|AC]]</small>
| align=center|1983
| align=center|2000
| align=center|17 years
|
|-
! align=center|7
|[[Greg Combet]], <small>[[Order of Australia#Member (AM)|AM]]</small>
| align=center|2000
| align=center|2007
| align=center|7 years
|MP for [[Division of Charlton|Charlton]] (2007–13).
|-
! align=center|8
|[[Jeff Lawrence (unionist)|Jeff Lawrence]]
| align=center|2007
| align=center|2012
| align=center|5 years
|Vice-President of the [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|Labor Party in New South Wales]] (2002–07).
|-
! align=center|9
|Dave Oliver
| align=center|2012
| align=center|15 March 2017
| align=center|5 years
|
|-
! align=center|10
|[[Sally McManus]]
| align=center|15 March 2017
| align=center|''Incumbent''
| align=center|{{ayd|15 March 2017}}
|
|}


==Affiliated trade and labour councils==
In the lead up to the 2007 federal election, the ACTU campaigned actively against the [[Howard Government]]'s [[WorkChoices]] legislation, which included an advertising campaign<ref>-[http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2005/s1414669.htm Media comment on campaign]</ref> and public rallies.<ref>- [http://rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns/nov30rally Rally information from Campaign website]</ref> This campaign was called "Your Rights at Work"<ref>http://www.rightsatwork.com.au/</ref> and was considered a success in making industrial relations an important election issue by both marketing companies<ref>[http://www.essentialmedia.com.au/CaseStudies/ACTUWorkChoices/tabid/145/Default.aspx Campaign Results]{{Dead link|date=July 2010}}</ref> and even Joe Hockey MP, the Federal Workplace Relations Minister, who said "This is the most sophisticated political plan that we have seen in Australia.".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2007/s1949620.htm |title=ABC transcript of radio interview with Joe Hockey |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=13 June 2007 |accessdate=2010-07-20}}</ref> One of the rallies was called ''Fill the "G" '', attended by 50,000 people at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] and broadcast to other similar rallies throughout the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/ir-laws-just-not-cricket/2006/11/30/1164777686782.html |title=Article from |publisher="The Age" |date= 30 November 2006|accessdate=2010-07-20 |location=Melbourne |first=Jane |last=Holroyd}}</ref><ref>-[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/march-stops-city-traffic/2006/11/30/1164777693335.html Article from "The Age"]</ref> A previous national rally had a reported attendance of 500,000 around Australia.<ref>url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1506727.htm Thousands protest against IR laws Australian Broadcasting Corporation 15 November 2005</ref><ref>http://theage.com.au/news/national/protesters-engulf-melbourne-cbd/2005/11/15/1132016771730.html
Eight trade and labour councils are affiliated with the ACTU:<ref>{{cite web |title=Affiliates and TLCs |url=https://www.actu.org.au/about-the-actu/affiliates-and-tlcs |website=www.actu.org.au |access-date=6 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
Protesters engulf Melbourne CBD The Age 15 November 2005 Cites 175,000 as Melbourne crowd size.</ref>


{{col-begin}}
==Current member organisations==
{{col-break}}
*[[Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia]]
* [[Queensland Council of Unions]]
*[[Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union]]
* [[SA Unions]]
*[[Australian Education Union]]
* [[Unions ACT]]
*[[Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers]]
* [[Labor Council of New South Wales]] (Unions NSW)
*[[Australian and International Pilots Association]]
{{col-break}}
*[[Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association]]
* [[Unions NT]]
*[[Australian Manufacturing Workers Union]]
* [[Unions Tasmania]]
*[[Australian Maritime Officers Union]]
* [[UnionsWA|Unions WA]]
*[[Australian Nursing Federation]]
* [[Victorian Trades Hall Council]]
*[[Australian Professional Footballers' Association]]
{{col-end}}
*[[Australian Rail Tram and Bus Industry Union]]

*[[Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation]]
==Current affiliated organisations==
*[[Australian Services Union]]
{{col-begin}}
*[[Australian Workers Union]]
{{col-break}}
*[[Australian Writers' Guild]]
* [[Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union]]
*[[Blind Workers Union of Victoria]]
* [[Australian and International Pilots Association]]
*[[Breweries & Bottleyards Employees Industrial Union of Workers WA]]
* [[Australian Education Union]]
*[[Civil Air Operations Officers Association of Australia]]
* [[Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers]]
*[[Club Managers Association Australia]]
* [[Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association]]
*[[Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of Australia]]
*[[Community and Public Sector Union]]
* [[Australian Manufacturing Workers Union]]
*[[Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union]]
* [[Australian Maritime Officers Union]]
* [[Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation]]
*[[Finance Sector Union]]
* [[Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation]]
*[[Flight Attendants' Association of Australia]]
*[[Funeral and Allied Industries Union of NSW]]
* [[Australian Services Union]]
*[[Health Services Union]]
* [[Australian Workers' Union]]
*[[Independent Education Union of Australia]]
* [[Breweries & Bottleyards Employees Industrial Union of Workers WA]]
{{col-break}}
*[[Maritime Union of Australia]]
* [[Civil Air Operations Officers' Association of Australia]]
*[[Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance]]
* [[Club Managers Association Australia]]
*[[National Tertiary Education Union]]
* [[Community and Public Sector Union]]
*[[National Union of Workers]]
* [[Finance Sector Union]]
*[[Police Federation of Australia]]
*[[Rugby League Professionals Association]]
* [[Flight Attendants' Association of Australia]]
* [[Health Services Union]]
*[[Salaried Pharmacists Association of WA Union of Workers]]
* [[Independent Education Union of Australia]]
*[[Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association]]
*[[Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia]]
* [[Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance]]
* [[Mining and Energy Union]]
*[[Transport Workers Union of Australia]]
{{col-break}}
*[[Union of Christmas Island Workers]]
* [[National Tertiary Education Union]]
*[[United Firefighters Union of Australia]]
* [[Police Association of New South Wales]]
*[[United Voice]]
* [[Professional Footballers Australia]]
*[[Western Australian Prison Officers Union of Workers]]
*[[Woolclassers Association of Australia]]
* [[Professionals Australia]]
* [[Australian Rail Tram and Bus Industry Union]]
* [[Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association]]
* [[Transport Workers Union of Australia]]
* [[Union of Christmas Island Workers]]
* [[United Firefighters Union of Australia]]
* [[United Workers Union]]
{{col-end}}

==Dis-affiliated organisations==
In 2024, a number of [[blue-collar]] trade unions disaffiliated with the ACTU.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Chris |title=Big blue-collar union quits ACTU in support of CFMEU |url=https://psnews.com.au/big-blue-collar-union-quits-actu-in-support-of-cfmeu/142494/ |work=PS News |language=en}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
* [[Electrical Trades Union of Australia]]
* [[Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of Australia]]
* [[Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union]]
{{col-end}}


==See also==
==See also==
* [[1998 Australian waterfront dispute]]
{{Portal|Organized labour}}
*[[1998 Australian waterfront dispute]]
* [[Australian Industrial Relations Law Reform 2005]]
* [[Australian labour law]]
*[[Arbitration]]
*[[Australian Industrial Relations Commission]]
* [[Australian Workplace Agreement]]
* [[Employers' organization]]
*[[Australian labour law]]
*[[Australian Workplace Agreement]]
* [[Enterprise Bargaining Agreement]]
*[[Collective bargaining]]
* [[Fair Pay Commission]]
* [[Trades Hall]]
*[[Common law contract (industrial relations)]]
* [[Trade Practices Act]]
*[[Compulsory arbitration]]
* [[Transport Workers Act 1928]]
*[[Employers' organization]]
* [[Unions ACT]]
*[[Enterprise Bargaining Agreement]]
* [[Victorian Trades Hall Council]]
*[[Fair Pay Commission]]
* [[List of unregistered Australian unions]]
*[[Federal award]]
* [[Workplace Relations Act 1996]]
*[[Industrial union]]
*[[Industry superannuation]]
*[[Picketing (protest)|Picket line]]
*[[Protected industrial action]]
*[[Strikebreaker]] (Scab)
*[[State award]]
*[[Trades Hall]]
*[[Trade Practices Act]]
*[[Transport Workers Act 1928]]
*[[Unprotected industrial action]]
*[[Unions ACT]]
*[[List of unregistered Australian unions]]
*[[Workplace Relations Act 1996]]
*[[Australian Industrial Relations Law Reform 2005]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.actu.org.au ACTU website]
* {{Official website|http://www.actu.org.au/}}
*[http://www.rightsatwork.com.au Your Rights at Work website]
*[http://www.unionsaustralia.com.au Unions Australia website]
*[http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/nov2007/lab1-n12.shtml Industrial relations and the trade unions under Labor: from Whitlam to Rudd—World Socialist Website]


{{ACTU Presidents}}
{{ACTU Presidents}}
{{ACTU Secretaries}}
{{ACTU Secretaries}}
{{Portalbar|Australia|Organised labour}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Australian Council Of Trade Unions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Australian Council Of Trade Unions}}
[[Category:Australian labour movement]]
[[Category:Australian Council of Trade Unions| ]]
[[Category:National federations of trade unions]]
[[Category:1927 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Bob Hawke]]
[[Category:Trade unions in Australia]]
[[Category:Trade unions in Australia]]
[[Category:ICFTU Asia and Pacific Regional Organisation]]
[[Category:Trade unions established in 1927]]
[[Category:Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD]]

[[de:Australian Council of Trade Unions]]
[[fr:Conseil australien des syndicats]]
[[sv:Australian Council of Trade Unions]]
[[uk:Австралійська рада профспілок]]

Latest revision as of 21:09, 16 October 2024

ACTU
Australian Council of Trade Unions
FoundedMay 1927; 97 years ago (1927-05)[1]
HeadquartersMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Location
Key people
AffiliationsITUC, ALP
Website
Part of a series on
Organised labour
Labour movement
Labour rights
Trade unions
Strike action
Labour parties
Academic disciplines

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 labour councils. The ACTU is a member of the International Trade Union Confederation.

The President of the ACTU is Michele O'Neil, who was elected on 28 July 2018. The current Secretary is Sally McManus.

Objectives

[edit]

The objectives of the ACTU, found in its constitution, are:

  • the socialisation of industry,
  • the organisation of wage and salary earners in the Australian workforce (within the trade union movement),
  • the utilisation of Australian resources to maintain full employment, establish equitable living standards which increase in line with output, and create opportunities for the development of talent.

Organisation

[edit]

The ACTU holds a biennial congress that is attended by approximately 800 delegates from affiliated organisations. Between congresses the ACTU is governed by an executive of 60 members: the president, the two vice-presidents, the secretary, the assistant secretaries, Trades and Labour Council representatives from each capital city and elected delegates from affiliated unions.

Current campaigns

[edit]

The ACTU's main current campaigns[2] include the campaign to win paid pandemic leave for all workers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the For the workers campaign[3] to oppose Commonwealth Government proposals to change Australian workplace laws, and the promotion of a Working from Home Charter.[4]

Following the 2007 Australian federal election, the ACTU's primary focus was the campaign to restore workers rights under the banner of the Your Rights at Work campaign.[5] In addition to this campaign the ACTU is also running a number of other campaigns, including workplace health and safety,[6] working with other unions on the Your Rights at Telstra campaign and supporting the Rights on Site[7] campaign.

The ACTU has also launched a service by which workers can join their applicable union directly through the ACTU. This self-titled "one stop shop" for union membership is Australian Unions.[8]

In 2008, the ACTU launched a campaign to make paid maternity leave a new national employment standard.[9]

In 2011, the ACTU launched a campaign to address the spread of casual, contract and other forms of insecure work in Australian workplaces.[10] Part of this involved an inquiry into insecure work.[11]

In 2023, the ACTU and other big unions including the Health Services Union, and the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union began a campaign calling for a levy to be imposed on non-union workers after the union was able to raise wages through collective bargaining.[12]

History

[edit]
Melbourne Trades Hall in Victoria is the "birthplace" of the ACTU

In Australia, agitation for One Big Union took place from 1911 from two different sectors: from the revolutionary Australian section of the IWW and from the pro-arbitration Australian Workers Union (AWU). At that time the AWU was the largest single Australian union. In 1918 after the collapse of the Australian IWW, a group of militant trade unions (which were opposed to the AWU) attempted to form One Big Union under the name Workers Industrial Union of Australia (WIUA). The hostility between the WIUA and the AWU prevented the formation of One Big Union in Australia. The ACTU was formed as the Australasian Council of Trade Unions in 1927 and was one of the earliest attempts by trade unions to apply the principles of One Big Union earlier explored by more radical syndicalist unions like the CNT or revolutionary industrial unions like the IWW. The ACTU has not achieved the ideals expressed for One Big Union: it remains a council organisation, but it does however represent the majority of Australian trade unions. At its formation in 1927 the ACTU was only seen as representing blue collar trades unions, and only managed to achieve the support of trades unions.

Attempts of Nationalist Stanley Bruce's federal government in 1927 to dismantle the Australian Industrial Relations Commission impelled Australian trade unions to form a national council. The ACTU's Australian trade union "peak body" precursors include state labour councils like the Victorian Trades Hall Council (originating in 1856 as the 'Melbourne Trades Hall Committee'), the Labor Council of New South Wales (originally formed in 1870 as the 'Sydney Trades and Labor Council') and the Inter-Colonial Trade Union Congress (formed in 1879).

Bob Hawke, ACTU President in 1970.

From 1948 peak bodies of white collar associations existed, and from 1969 peak bodies of government employees. The white collar bodies were: the Council of Professional and Commercial Employees Association (1948), which became the Council of White Collar Associations (1954), which amalgamated with the Salaried Employees Consultative Council of New South Wales (1954) to become the Australian Council of Salaried and Professional Associations (ACSPA) in 1956. The government employee bodies were: the Council of Commonwealth Public Service Organisations (1969) which became the Council of Australian Government Employee Organisations (CAGEO) in 1975. The ACTU successfully integrated these bodies in 1981. After 1981 the ACTU was generally viewed by the Australian media and public as the organisation representing all workers' organisations.

Greg Combet, Then Secretary of the ACTU, speaking on 2 November 2005 shortly after the Government introduced its WorkChoices legislation into the Australian Parliament.

The ACTU and Labour Councils have often united Australian working class opinion behind certain initiatives like the eight-hour day or compulsory arbitration. In the early 1980s this unifying impulse created the Prices and Incomes Accord. The ACTU retains a close relationship with the Australian Labor Party: former ACTU President Bob Hawke went on to become the leader of the ALP and then Prime Minister of Australia. Other former ACTU Presidents who went on to become members of Federal Parliament are: Simon Crean (president 1985–90), Martin Ferguson (1990–96), Jennie George (1996–99), and Ged Kearney (2010–18). The November 2007 election win by the Labor Party, saw the election of a number of union officials to the parliament (Commonwealth) including Bill Shorten (Australian Workers Union) and Greg Combet (former ACTU Secretary).

In the late 1980s and early 1990s the ACTU was influential in a move to forcibly amalgamate smaller unions into so called "super unions". The ACTU's plans envisaged 20 super unions organised on an industrial basis. While many amalgamations occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s (in part under the influence of changed industrial law), there are still many unions, and union coverage is often organised by historical amalgamation, not by industry.

Past campaigns

[edit]

In the lead up to the 2007 federal election, the ACTU campaigned actively against the Howard government's WorkChoices legislation, which included an advertising campaign[13] and public rallies.[14] This campaign was originally called "Your Rights at Work" but is now known as "Secure Jobs. Better Future"[5] and was considered a success in making industrial relations an important election issue by both marketing companies[15] and even Joe Hockey MP, the Federal Workplace Relations Minister, who said "This is the most sophisticated political plan that we have seen in Australia.".[16] One of the rallies was called Fill the "G" , attended by 50,000 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and broadcast to other similar rallies throughout the country.[17][18] A previous national rally had a reported attendance of 500,000 around Australia.[19][20]

Leadership

[edit]

Presidents

[edit]
No. Name Took post Left post Time Notes
1 Billy Duggan 1927 1934 7 years Coburg councillor (1924–30); Mayor of Coburg (1928–29).
2 Albert Monk, CMG 1934 1943 9 years 2nd Secretary of the ACTU.
3 Percy Clarey 1943 1949 6 years MP for Bendigo (1949–60).
(2) Albert Monk, CMG 1949 1969 20 years
4 Bob Hawke, AC, GCL 1969 1980 11 years MP for Wills (1980–92); President of the Labor Party (1973–78); Leader of the Labor Party (1983–91); Leader of the Opposition (1983); Prime Minister (1983–91).
5 Cliff Dolan 1980 1985 5 years
6 Simon Crean 1985 1990 5 years MP for Hotham (1990–2013); Deputy Leader of the Labor Party (1998–2001); Leader of the Labor Party (2001–03).
7 Martin Ferguson 1990 1996 6 years MP for Batman (1996–2013).
8 Jennie George, AO 1996 2000 4 years MP for Throsby (2001–10).
9 Sharan Burrow, AC 2000 2010 10 years President of ICFTU (2004–06); President of ITUC (2006–10); General Secretary of ITUC (2010–2022).
10 Ged Kearney 1 July 2010 2 February 2018 7 years, 216 days MP for Batman (2018–19); MP for Cooper (2019–present).
11 Michele O'Neil 17 July 2018 Incumbent 6 years, 168 days

Secretaries

[edit]
No. Name Took post Left post Time Notes
1 Charlie Crofts 1927 1943 16 years President of the Labor Party in Victoria (1926–27).
2 Albert Monk, CMG 1943 1949 6 years
3 Reg Broadby 1949 1956 7 years
4 Harold Souter 1956 1977 21 years
5 Peter Nolan 1977 1983 6 years
6 Bill Kelty, AC 1983 2000 17 years
7 Greg Combet, AM 2000 2007 7 years MP for Charlton (2007–13).
8 Jeff Lawrence 2007 2012 5 years Vice-President of the Labor Party in New South Wales (2002–07).
9 Dave Oliver 2012 15 March 2017 5 years
10 Sally McManus 15 March 2017 Incumbent 7 years, 292 days

Affiliated trade and labour councils

[edit]

Eight trade and labour councils are affiliated with the ACTU:[21]

Current affiliated organisations

[edit]

Dis-affiliated organisations

[edit]

In 2024, a number of blue-collar trade unions disaffiliated with the ACTU.[22]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Donn, C. B., & Dunkley, G. (1977). The Founding of the ACTU: The Origins of a Central Trade Union Federation. Journal of Industrial Relations, 19(4), 404–423. https://doi.org/10.1177/002218567701900405
  2. ^ "Campaigns". Australian Unions.
  3. ^ "For the workers | Australian Unions". fortheworkers.australianunions.org.au.
  4. ^ "Working From Home Charter | Australian Unions". action.australianunions.org.au.
  5. ^ a b "Australian Unions - We're for workers". Australian Unions.
  6. ^ ACTU Health and Safety pages Archived 2 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Rights on Site website". Rightsonsite.org.au. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  8. ^ Australian Unions. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  9. ^ Paid Parental Leave Archived 13 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine ACTU. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  10. ^ (16 May 2012) Joe Kelly.ACTU out to reverse work 'casualisation', improve bargaining power. The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  11. ^ "Stoush brews over full-time job orders".
  12. ^ Thompson, Angus (10 January 2023). "Unions push for a wage deal levy for non-members". The Age. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  13. ^ (14 July 2005) Heather Ewart. Ads argue the case for and against IR changes Archived 5 January 2006 at the Wayback Machine. 7:30 Report. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  14. ^ - Rally information from Campaign website Archived 12 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "Campaign Results". Archived from the original on 30 August 2007.
  16. ^ "ABC transcript of radio interview with Joe Hockey". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 June 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  17. ^ Holroyd, Jane (30 November 2006). "IR laws 'just not cricket'". Melbourne: "The Age". Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  18. ^ (30 November 2006) Reko Rennie. March stops city traffic. The Age.
  19. ^ Thousands protest against IR laws Archived 5 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 November 2005.
  20. ^ Protesters engulf Melbourne CBD. The Age. 15 November 2005. Cites 175,000 as Melbourne crowd size.
  21. ^ "Affiliates and TLCs". www.actu.org.au. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  22. ^ Johnson, Chris. "Big blue-collar union quits ACTU in support of CFMEU". PS News.
[edit]
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