One of the largest and oldest trade unions and the largest blue collar union
Has a diverse range of members throughout Australia peaking up to about 135,000
Formed in 1886 as the Amalgamated Shearers Union (ASU)
They aim to protect working conditions and controlling them between employees and employers and provide assistance in legal matters for defence of the members rights.
Year Event 1886 William Guthrie Spence and David Temple begin organising shearers; establishment of Australasian Shearers Union on 16 June 1886 at Fern's Hotel in Ballarat. The new union is headquartered in the town of Creswick near Ballarat in Victoria. 1887 Creswick, Bourke and Wagga Wagga unions form Amalgamated Shearers Union of Australia; Creswick dominates. Spence, President, Temple Secretary. Formation of Queensland Shearers Union. Biggest Queensland union by 1889. 1888-90 ASU grows interstate (NSW Vic. & SA); Membership claimed: 20,000 shearers. 1890 Establishment of Brisbane Worker. ASU conference: decision to enforce closed shop/blockade; affiliation with Trades Halls in New South Wales and Victoria. QSU affiliates with Australian Labour Federation. Maritime Strike (August-November). 1891 ASU organises General Labourers Union February on behalf of shed-hands; QSU and Queensland Workers Union (shed-hands) form AWUQ. Queensland pastoral strike. July: ASU Executive Council concedes freedom of contract. Wagga Branch publishes The Hummer. 1894 Macdonell successfully pushes for ASU/GLU amalgamation New South Wales to form the Australian Workers Union, David Temple walks out of conference; William Spence replaces him as General Secretary. Pastoral strike. 1895 Impact of economic depression and drought prompts membership fall from estimated 17,000 to 7,000; continues fallin ...