Trade Union entry Australian Building Industry Employees Union (1915 - 1926)

Summary

The building trades unions in Brisbane and other metropolitan areas of Queensland had been attempting for years, prior to 1915, to form an amalgamated body to cover all the crafts in the building industry in order to offset the increasing influence of the Australian Workers' Union [AWU] in these areas. However, it wasn't until 1915 that the various divergent interests of these building unions were put aside for the sake of a common, amalgamated union, the Australian Building Industry Employees' Union [ABIEU]. Although, the ABIEU flourished during its infancy, increasing in size and power, the divergent interests that had stalled its formation for so long returned to plague the union. The ABIEU, however, continued to operate for eleven years, although its effectiveness in representing its members during much of that time was severely limited by the constant factional in-fighting and disunity. In 1926 the ABIEU was terminated.

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Proctor, S.K., 'The Rise and Decline of the Australian Building Industry Employees' Union in Brisbane 1912-1918', Labour History, vol. 13, Australian Society for the Study of Labour History, Sydney, 1967, pp. 26-32. Details