Labor Council of New South Wales


The Labor Council of New South Wales, branded Unions NSW, is the peak body for trade unions in the state of New South Wales, Australia. As of 2005 there are 67 unions and 8 Rural and Regional Trades & Labor Councils affiliated to the Labor Council, representing 800,000 workers in NSW. It is registered as the State Peak Council of Employees under Section 215 of the Industrial Relations Act 1996. The Council is affiliated with the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

History

The Labor Council was formed by six unions in 1871, and originally called the Trades & Labor Council of Sydney. The council experienced rapid growth during its early history, with the number of affiliated unions tripling between 1885 and 1890, and total membership reaching 35,000 in that year, or 60% of union members in the Colony of New South Wales. By 1891, 21.5% of all employees in the colony were union members, making it the most organised workforce in the world. Union organisation in the colony suffered badly during the economic depression of the 1890s, due to high unemployment, aggressive anti-union policies of employers and a number of large, unsuccessful strikes including the 1890 Australian maritime dispute and the 1891 Australian shearers strike.
In 1894, the Trades & Labor Council of Sydney changed its name to the Sydney District of Australasian Labour Federation. In 1900, it again changed its name to the Sydney Labor Council, changing again eight years later to the Labor Council of New South Wales. In 2005, it adopted the brand name UnionsNSW for all public purposes, but retained the official name Labor Council of New South Wales.

Responsibilities

The Labor Council of New South Wales is responsible for:
NoNameYearUnion
1W. M. Ford1871
2Thomas White1872Seamen's Union of Australia
3Angus Cameron1873Progressive Society of Carpenters and Joiners
4Thomas White1873Seamen's Union of Australia
5Frank B. Dixon1873Operative Stonemasons' Society
6Angus Cameron1874Progressive Society of Carpenters and Joiners
7Edward I. Aiken1874
8T. H. Hall1876
9W. Helstey1880
10William R. Roylance1880Operative Stonemasons' Society
11J. E. West1883Operative Plumbers' Society
12Frank B. Dixon1883Operative Stonemasons' Society
13Thomas Symons1884
14James J. Cronin1887New South Wales Saddle, Harness and Collar Makers' Protective Society
15Thomas J. Houghton1888New South Wales Typographical Association
16John Riddell1894Operative Stonemasons' Society
17J. P. Cochran1894United Labourers Union
18T. H. Thrower1903United Furniture Trade Society
19J. P. Cochran1904United Labourers' Union
20E. J. Kavanagh1910Pressers Union of New South Wales
21J. S. Garden1918Operative Sailmakers' Society
22J. Howie1922Federated Coopers of Australia
23J. S. Garden1923Operative Sailmakers' Society
24Robert Arthur King1934Australian Saddlery Trades Employees' Federation
25James Kenny1958Australian Glass Workers' Union
26Ralph Marsh1967Boilermakers' Society of Australia
27John Ducker1975Federated Ironworkers' Association
28Barrie Unsworth1979Electrical Trades Union
29John MacBean1984Electrical Trades Union
30Michael Easson1989
31Peter Sams1994Australian Workers' Union
32Michael Costa1998Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen
33John Robertson2001Electrical Trades Union
34Mark Lennon2008
35Mark Morey2016Rail, Tram & Bus Union