Trade Union entry Federated Seamens Union of Australasia (1906 - 1925)

Summary

Formed in 1876 by the amalgamation of the Sydney Seamen's Union and the Melbourne Seamen's Union, the Federated Seamen's Union of Australasia was registered under the Commonwealth's industrial relations legislation in 1906.

On 5 June 1925, Deputy President Webb deregistered the Union for continuous disobedience to the arbitration laws and repeated interruption of shipping services. For the next decade, the union as a federal body had no legal power to enforce its rules and collect from members.

Many of its members went on to form the Seamen's Union of Australasia in 1930, which became the Seamen's Union of Australia in 1943. Despite amalgamations with the Marine Cooks' Bakers' & Butchers' Association of Australia in 1983, the Federated Marine Stewards' & Pantrymens' Association of Australasia in 1988 and the Professional Divers' Association in 1991, it remained the Seamen's Union of Australia until 1991 when it amalgamated with the Waterside Workers' Federation to form the Maritime Union of Australia.

Related entries

Timeline

 1874 - 1876 Sydney Seamens Union
 1874 - 1876 Melbourne Seamans Union
       1906 - 1925 Federated Seamens Union of Australasia

Archival resources

James Cook University of North Queensland, Library Archives

• Edward Yule Lowry Papers, 1887 - 1897, 403R; James Cook University of North Queensland, Library Archives. Details

John Oxley Library, Manuscripts and Business Records Collection, State Library of Queensland

• Catherine Seymour and Charles Seymour Papers, c. 1880 - c. 1930, OM91-16; John Oxley Library, Manuscripts and Business Records Collection, State Library of Queensland. Details
• Charles Seymour Papers 1880-1924, 1880 - 1924, OM69-18; John Oxley Library, Manuscripts and Business Records Collection, State Library of Queensland. Details

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

• Albert Mitchell - Papers, 1928-1975, 1928 - 1975, MN 1670; JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. Details

National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection

• Frank Anstey - Papers, 1880-1920, 1880 - 1920, MS 512; National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection. Details
• Thomas Walsh and Adela Pankhurst Walsh papers, 1905-1961, 1905 - 1961, MS 2123; National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection. Details

The Noel Butlin Archives Centre, ANU Archives Program

• Seamens Union of Australia - Records, c. 1900 - 1984, Z263; The Noel Butlin Archives Centre, ANU Archives Program. Details
• Seamens Union of Australia - Records, 1921 - 1989, E198; P92; Z467; The Noel Butlin Archives Centre, ANU Archives Program. Details
• Seamens Union of Australia - Records, 1888 - 1945, Z493; The Noel Butlin Archives Centre, ANU Archives Program. Details

State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection

• James Williamson - Testimonials to service on several ships, 1878-1904, 1878 - 1904, MS 11937; State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection. Details

The University of Melbourne Archives

• Seamen's Union of Australia - Records, 1916 - 1986, 1987.0125; The University of Melbourne Archives. Details

Published resources

Books

• Fitzpatrick, Brian and Cahill, Rowan J., Seamen's Union of Australia, 1872-1972: A History, Seamens' Union of Australia, Sydney, 1981, 363 pp. Details

Journal Articles

• Morris, Richard, 'Mr Justice Higgins Scuppered: The 1919 Seamen's Strike', Labour History, vol. 37, Australian Society for the Study of Labour History, Sydney, 1979, pp. 52-62. Details

Online Resources

• 'Chart 16: Trade Unions - Maritime and Stevedoring', in Parties to the Award, 2002, http://www.atua.org.au/ptta/037.html. Details