Peak Union body entry Australian Labour Federation (WA) (1907 - 1927)

Summary

Originally known as the Trades & Labor Council, Perth from 1891, this peak trade union body re-emerged in 1907 as the Western Australian Branch of the Australian Labour Federation.

Twenty years later, in 1927, it was operating as the Australian Labor Party (WA). 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.

In 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 the body's current focus. Thus, in April 2000, the Trades & Labor Council became UnionsWA to more adequately encompass both white and blue collar unions.

Related entries

Timeline

 1891 - 1907 Trades & Labor Council, Perth
       1907 - 1927 Australian Labour Federation (WA)
             1927 - 1947 Australian Labor Party (WA)
                   1947 - 1963 Trade Unions Industrial Council (ALP, WA)
                         1963 - 2000 Trades & Labor Council of Western Australia
                               2000 - UnionsWA

Published resources

Online Resources

• 'Chart 4: State and Territory Trades and Labor Councils', in Parties to the Award, 2002, http://www.atua.org.au/ptta/024.html. Details