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Trade Union entry Public Service Association of New South Wales (1899 - )

From
1899
New South Wales
Functions
Trade Union (State or Territory only)
Website
http://www.psa.labor.net.au/

Summary

The first attempt to form a Public Service Association of New South Wales [PSA] was made in April 1886 by Arthur Josling and P.H. Somerville. Their actions may have been prompted by similar moves in Victoria and by growing concerns of political patronage within the service. The Provisional Committee set up to establish the organisation stated that the Association would not have a political character nor would it be a trade union. Thirteen years passed before the union was established in 1899.

The Association's first Chairman was Mr. Cornelius Delohery with Mr. W.A. Thomson elected Secretary. In November 1890 Mr. John Osbourne was appointed as the first permanent Secretary and the first Council was elected to conduct the business of the PSA. In October of the same year, the first country branch was formed at Moree. Others quickly followed in Armidale, Goulburn, Hay, Newcastle, Forbes and Orange.

In 1915, it was decided by a vote of 670 to 538 to register as a trade union under the Industrial Arbitration and Trade Union Acts. The proposal fired spirited debate but, nevertheless, registered as a Trade Union under the Trade Union Act and an Industrial Union under the Industrial Arbitration Act. Four internal divisions were established - Clerical, General, Professional and Education. By 1920, a vocational structure was emerging - the division and representation of members by the jobs they did - and the PSA's first awards were lodged.

In 1922, new legislation again excluded the PSA from the arbitration system. In an attempt to correct this situation the PSA waged a major political campaign between 1925 and 1930 to regain access to the system. The Lang Labor Government eventually amended the legislation. Four sections then emerged - Clerical, General, Professional and Government Agencies - plus a Women's Auxiliary.

Timeline

  Petty Sessions Officers Association
 1915 - ? New South Wales Public Service Professional Officers Association
       1899 - Public Service Association of New South Wales

Archival resources

Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales

  • Public Service Association of New South Wales. Library Officers' Vocational Branch - further records, 1945-1974, 1945 - 1974, MLMSS 2916 ADD-ON 1413; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • Public Service Association of New South Wales. Library Officers' Vocational Branch - further records, 1969-1973, 1969 - 1973, MLMSS 2916 ADD-ON 1642; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • Public Service Association of New South Wales. Library Officers' Vocational Branch further records relating to award hearings, 1967-1973, 1967 - 1973, MLMSS 2916 ADD-ON 848; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
  • Public Service Association of New South Wales. Library Officers' Vocational Branch records relating to award hearings, 1973, 1973, ML MSS 2916 (K 48761-K 48762); Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details

National Library of Australia Oral History Collection

  • Don Taylor interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Labor Council of New South Wales oral history project, 1986, ORAL TRC 1948/11; National Library of Australia Oral History Collection. Details

University of Wollongong Archives

  • Public Service Association of New South Wales - 'Red Tape', 1974 - ?, A31; University of Wollongong Archives. Details

Published resources

Online Resources

Ross G. Elford