Employer Body entry Commonwealth Steamship Owners Association (1905 - )

Summary

The Commonwealth Steamship Owners' Association had its origins in the Victorian Steamship Owners' Federation. As a result of a resolution of the Victorian Steamship Owners' Federation "to form a shipowners' federation or association for all the colonies with Melbourne as the Central Office" the Australasian Steamship Owners' Federation [ASOF] was formed in September 1899. This new Federation modelled itself on the Shipping Federation, London, and its founding members wer Huddart Parker & Co., McIlwraith McEachern & Co., the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, the Australasian Steam Navigation Company and the Adelaide Steamship Company.

ASOF negotiated and represented member companies in the determination of wages and conditions for employees, maintained a register of vessels owned and operated by members and acted on other matters of mutual concern to member companies such as shipping legislation, trading agreements, shipping accidents and port conditions. In 1905 the Commonwealth Steamship Owners' Association was formed and registered under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act to assume the industrial responsibilities of ASOF. The two bodies were identical in composition.

Archival resources

JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia

• Association of Employers of Waterside Labour - Records, 1901-1969, 1901 - 1969, MN 1616; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details

The Noel Butlin Archives Centre, ANU Archives Program

• Association of Employers of Waterside Labour - Records, 1901 - 1992, Z430; The Noel Butlin Archives Centre, ANU Archives Program. Details
• Commonwealth Steamship Owners Association - Records, 1905 - 1985, E217(pt); Z559; The Noel Butlin Archives Centre, ANU Archives Program. Details

Published resources

Online Resources

• 'Chart 42: Employer Associations and Employers - Transport', in Parties to the Award, 2002, http://www.atua.org.au/ptta/064.html. Details