Electrical Trades Union of Australia. N.S.W. Branch records, 1900-1979

MLMSS 8418

fonds

1900-1979

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings, Photographs

411446

3.65 metres of textual material (22 boxes)

In June 1900, 30 electrical trade workers met in Sydney to discuss the formation of a union of workers for the electrical trades industry, which they intended to call the Operative Electrical Union. This was a result of the depression in Australia in the 1890’s, which made life very difficult for many workers and their families. Many were without jobs, and those that were lucky enough to have a job suffered horrible working and living conditions.
The official anniversary of the union is October 28 1902. There was a meeting in room 27 of the Trades Hall, and at this meeting the following were elected: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, and Committee members representing government workers and civil workers. Thirty-seven members were enrolled at this meeting and paid their entrance fees, which represented 1.25% of members’ wages, a significantly larger proportion of wages than is paid today. Objectives of the Union were: To protect and regulate the conditions of labour in the various branches of the trade. To promote the general welfare of its members. To aid other societies having amongst their objectives the interests of workers. The Union grew from strength to strength. Much of the union's growth was due to the growth in electricity. The first public street lighting was switched on in Tamworth in NSW in 1888, closely followed by the Councils of Young, Penrith, Moss Vale, Broken Hill and Newcastle. Sydney Municipal Council did not begin public supply until 1904. The growth of the ETU was inevitably related to the growth of the electricity supply industry in NSW. The largest employer of ETU members in the beginnings was the Railways and Tramways Department. Tramways were electrified in 1888 and railways in 1926. On 11 May 1961 the NSW Trade and Industrial union of the ETU was formed. As a registered trade union in NSW, the purpose was to access improvements in conditions of employment and other such benefits as may flow to trade union members generally. It was not long before this state registered union had over 7,000 members.


Reference:
http://www.etunsw.asn.au

Minute books of Operative Electrical Union and Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, Trade and Industrial Union, including minutes of the General meeting, the State Council Executive Meeting and Credentials Committee Meeting, 1900-1912, 1921-1979.
Newscuttings, 1913-1917, 1937-1941; annual returns, 1909-1945; applications to join the union, 1919; photographs ca. 1900-1920; dispute concerning registration, Benson v ETU, 1963-1964

BOX 1
Operative Electrical Union. Minute Book, 16th June, 1900 – 3rd September, 1901, Electrical Trades Union of New South Wales, Minute Books, 28th October, 1902 - 8th February, 1912

BOX 2
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 16th November, 1921 – 20th December, 1926, minutes of meetings in bound volume

BOX 3
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 21st December, 1926 – 3rd January, 1928, minutes of meetings in bound volume

BOX 4
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 4th January, 1928 – 21st December, 1936, minutes of meetings in bound volume

BOX 5
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 6th January, 1937 – 11th January, 1943, minutes of meetings in bound volume

BOX 6
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 11th January, 1943 – 17th December, 1945, 7th January, 1946 – 28th June, 1948, minutes of meetings in bound volumes

BOX 7
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 5th July, 1948 – 17th December, 1951, 7th January, 1952 – 21st December, 1953, minutes of meetings in bound volumes

BOX 8
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 4th January, 1954 – 19th December, 1955, 9th January, 1956 – 22nd December, 1958 minutes of meetings in bound volumes

BOX 9
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 5th January, 1959 – 19th December, 1960, 19th December, 1960 – 20th December, 1962 minutes of meetings in bound volumes

BOX 10
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 10th October, 1962 – 16th December, 1963, minutes of meetings in bound volume. General Trade Sub-Branch, Electrical Trades Union, minutes, 1946 – 26th September, 1961 in bound volume, Electrical Trade Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, Specially summoned quarterly aggregate meeting, 12th January, 1955 business paper in folder

BOX 11
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 11th May, 1961 - 20th December, 1965, minutes of meetings in bound volume. Electrical Trade Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 23rd December, 1963 – 13th December, 1965, minutes of meetings in bound volume

BOX 12
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 20th December, 1965 – 18th December, 1967, minutes of meetings in bound volume

BOX 13
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 10th January, 1966 – 16th December, 1968, minutes of meetings in bound volume

BOX 14
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 8th January, 1968 – 22nd December, 1969, minutes of meetings in bound volume

BOX 15
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 12th January, 1970 – 18th December, 1972, minutes of meetings in bound volume

BOX 16
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 6th January, 1969 – 15th January, 1973, minutes of meetings in bound volume

BOX 17
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 8th January, 1973 – 31st May, 1976, minutes of meetings in bound volume

BOX 18
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 16th January, 1973 – 31st May, 1976, minutes of meetings in bound volume.

BOX 19
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, 7th June, 1976 - 17th December, 1979, minutes of meetings in bound volume

BOX 20
Miscellaneous Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch printed material and photographs ca. 1900-1920, album of newscuttings, ca. 1913-1928

BOX 21
Scrapbook, ca. 1913-1928, Annual Registrars Returns, 1909-1945, Applications to join Electrical Trades Union of Australia, 1919

BOX 22
Electrical Trades Union of Australia New South Wales Branch, Dispute re. Registration Benson v E.T.U. , 1963-1964. Imperial Chemical Industries Work Study, 1952

Copyright status:: In copyright
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

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