Labor Council of New South Wales further records, 1906-1982

MLMSS 2074 ADD-ON 1877

fonds

1906-1982

892706

25.26 metres of textual material (140 boxes, 3 folders, 1 volume)

Founded in 1871 the Labor Council of New South Wales is the central trade union organisation in the State. Its role is to coordinate and plan activities of different unions, in strike action, negotiations with employers, in legislation through courts and tribunals. Other Functions include handling of dispute referred to Council, lobbying government on behalf of unionists and settling disputes and differences between unions.

The Council consists of district councils and unions, or branches of unions, within New South Wales. Unions pay sustentation fees and are represented at weekly Council meetings. Through their industry group unions elect representatives to the Council Executive which meets prior to the weekly Council meeting. Council delegates elect to the Executive a secretary, assistant secretary and organizers as full time officers.

The Council owns Broadcasting Station 2KY, in Sydney, which has been operating since 1925. It is a preferred shareholder in Airsales Broadcasting Co. Pty. Ltd., Sandgate, New South Wales, operating Station 2HD in the Newcastle region. The Council, also, owns a holiday resort, “ Currawong “, at Pittwater, New South Wales.

The Labor Council is part of the national trade union structure. As the state branch of the Australian Council of Trade Unions it implements A.C.T.U. policy and has direct representation on the A.C.T.U. Executive. The affiliation between trade unions and the Australian Labor Party, or, the Labor Movement, has enabled Labor Council office holders to occupy prominent positions in the party organisation both at the state and federal level.

James Denis Kenny, M.L.C., succeeded Robert A. King, M.L.C., as secretary in 1958. He became manager of station 2KY, the Council’s funeral fund and its holiday report. He was made a vice president of the A.C.T.U. a position he retained until his death in 1967. He was also a vice president of the A.L.P. both the Federal and the New South Wales Branch. He represented the Labor Council and the A.L.P. on numerous committees and organisations, including the Sydney Opera House, and was a union delegate at international conferences. Ralph Marsh took over after Kenny’s death. The Council moved from the Trades Hall into new premises in Sussex Street in November 1970. The Labor Council Building was officially opened by the Governor, Sir Roden Cutler, on 25 February 1971, the centenary year of the Council’s formation. Unions and the A.L.P. also became tenants. The assistant secretary was John Ducker, A.C.T.U. Interstate Executive member from 1969 and later, in 1977, junior vice – president. He took a major role in the A.L.P. and became Branch president in 1970, national junior and then senior vice president and chairman of the National A.L.P. Industrial Relations Committee. In 1972 he was elected member of the Legislative Council and in 1975 Labor Council secretary. On his retirement in 1979 Barry Unsworth became secretary and John MacBean assistant secretary. On 25 May 1981 the Council celebrated 110 years of activity. A souvenir booklet was produced to set out highlights of its history.

The Council’s Compensation Department was first established in 1925 to advise members of affiliated unions on their compensation rights and to take up disputed claims in the courts. In 1967 the Council began to publish a “ Compensation and Research Bulletin “ to keep unions abreast of developments in compensation law and practice.

Since 1972 the Council has conducted an education and training program for unionists. In 1974 and 1975 it was expanded with financial assistance from the Australian Council on Union Training set up by the Australian Government.

This collection includes pictorial material at Pic.Acc.6855

Partly restricted - This collection contains confidential, personal and/or culturally sensitive information: Applies to Boxes 62-82. Prior approval from donor is required for access. Any requests for access will be referred to donor by the Head of Manuscripts.

Contents list available in the Mitchell Library Reading Room

Information transferred from Manuscripts Leaf Catalogue No.2 as part of the eRecords Project, 2009-2010

Keyword subjects:
Industrial relations