No Tags for this organisation

Add a tag


Separate multiple tags with a semicolon test cricket; Perth (WA)

Australian Railways Union - Victorian Branch.

Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-620163

Biographies

Australian Women's Register

The Victorian Branch of the Australian Railways Union (ARU), in contrast to many other male unions, did not encourage female rail workers to set up a separate section. In 1920 the Victorian Railways commenced employing women in sizeable numbers mainly as waitresses, barmaids, laundresses and cooks at various city and country railway stations. At this time, the Refreshment Services Branch was established with the introduction of new machinery into railway administrative offices, however females began to perform clerical work traditionally done by better-paid men. During World War II women began working in positions traditionally reserved for men. The Union participated in the Council of Action for Equal Pay, a body formed in 1937 to further the interests of female workers, as well as contributing to the Australian Council of Trade Union organized conferences on equal pay held in April and September 1942. Women paid junior rates for their union fees until equal pay was achieved.

Victorian rail unionism began with the labourers' Mutual Service Association of 1884. Others formed (of which the Locomotive Enginemen's retained separate identity until 1990s), but moves to form an 'all-grades' union culminated with the establishment of the Victorian Railways Union (VRU) in 1911. Though attracted by the idea of One Big Union, VRU opted to become Victorian Branch of the Australian Railways Union (ARU) in 1920. The ARU in Victoria has long been militant and active in all major industrial campaigns of its existence. In 1993 it merged with Tram and Bus union and became a division of the Public Transport Union.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for Australian Railways Union - Victorian Branch.

Selected resources (12)

Australian Women's Register

  1. In the service? : a history of Victorian Railways workers and their union
    Butler-Bowdon, Eddie
    [1991]
    Published: Hyland House, South Yarra, Vic.
  2. AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS UNION, VICTORIAN BRANCH
    [1929 - 1976]
    Membership cards: sub-branchs, specific areas and workshops, c1950s to 1970s; Workers' Compensation files, 1929, 1935-59, 1961, 1964- 1965; Annual Reports of Victorian Railways, 1912-29, 1933-38, 1942-59, 1961-73, 1976. Quantity: 70 Archive boxes plus c15 boxes of membership cards
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    89/127
  3. AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS UNION, VICTORIAN BRANCH
    [1923 - 1987]
    "Ararat Shunters Section": Outwards correspondence, 1938-67, 1972 - 84; Notes, memorandum, correspondence, policies and other 1975-87; Minutes of stopwork meetings, August 1972 - August 1986; Victorian Railways Signal & Telegraph Catalogue, 1923 - 40; Country sub-branch correspondence inwards and Victorian Branch replies outwards, 1958 - 59.
    0.28 m
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    89/96
  4. AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS UNION, VICTORIAN BRANCH
    [1943 - 1980]
    EB-B research compilations andchapter drafts; oral interviews on 20 casettes; floppy discette with book; photographs used in book; some secondary sources. North Bendigo Railway workshops:- copies of corres- pondence and other bits and pieces, 1940s to '70s; and, Minutes 1943-53, 1964-65, 1973-76, 1979-81, some rough, eleven books in all. Membership levy books 1962 - 74 (broken); Various Publications, 1960s-1970s; Account book 1946 to 1951; Membership levy charts, 1950s to 70s (some Gaps). State Council Minutes(incompl); copies of Shop Committee News. Quantity: 7 archives boxes; 1 outsizes
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    88/131
  5. AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS UNION, VICTORIAN BRANCH
    [1899 - 1975]
    Minute Book, Maryborough Branch 1901-1909; Financial Statements, 1970-75; Staff Salaries and Wages, 1965-1970; Correspondence regarding Railway Discipline Board, 1968; Historical Data, including registration with C&A Court, membership tickets, Labor Paper shares, Trust deeds, receipts, insurance & guarant- ees (c1910-55). Material re CE O'Neill (Goods foreman) and NT Mills (Goods guard) c 1915-30. Photographs c 1930.
    0.12 m
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    88/72
  6. AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS UNION, VICTORIAN BRANCH
    [1939 - 1986]
    ARU catering committee minutes 1983-1985; ARU Branch Council seminar claim; Jolimaont Shop Committee material; Peter Dyer address; A.J. Cregan's papers; publications 1939-1970; election ballot papers; arbitration and awards; subject files; copies of the ARU Gazette; ACTU child-care kit 1984.
    0.96 m, 8 archives boxes
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    86/177
  7. AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS UNION, VICTORIAN BRANCH
    [1930 - 1976]
    ARU minutes; correspondence; report on social insurance 1935; report on unemployment 1937; Combined Union Shop Committee minutes and circulars; correspondence regarding awards and working conditions 1942- 1955; political pamphlets; leaflets; newspaper clippings i.e. "Argus" 1930-1970; arbitration material including court determinations; ARU Queensland Branch council material; Victorian Railways Government reports; ACTU reports, automation seminar, bulletins, information sheets; AMSWU Journals 1972; Whitlam address, 1972.
    9 archives boxes
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    85/92
  8. AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS UNION, VICTORIAN BRANCH
    [1957 - 1976]
    Records of wage adjustments for railway workers.
    8 ledgers
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    87/76
  9. AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS UNION, VICTORIAN BRANCH
    [c. 1912]
    Victorian Railways Union banner, painted on canvas by J.Hennesy n.d. [c.1912] 4.2 x 4.5 m.
    1 banner
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    79/128
  10. AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS UNION, VICTORIAN BRANCH
    [1979 - 1983]
    T.U.T.A. files including correspondence and subject files.
    9 archives boxes
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    85/106
  11. Australian Railways Union, Victorian Branch
    [1892 - 1972]
    Photographs and negatives of ARU members, railway sites, events, meetings, protests; sketch of Unity Hall; badges.
    0.24 m, 2 archives boxes
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    85/97
  12. Australian Railways Union, Victorian Branch
    [1887 - 1975]
    VRU Mutual Service Assn Minutes 1887-8; ARU State Exec Minutes 1918-69; ARU State Council Minutes 1918-69; Finance C'ttee Minutes 1920- 1955; conference reports 1912-69; corresp. - sub-branch & individuals & State Sec's, & alphabetical series; subject files; branch circulars; branch elections inc. corresp.; financial inc. journals, cash books, ledgers, credit books, debit books; membership; Aust Council & Executive corresp., reports; Arbitration awards & conditions; publications; photo -graphs. Quantity: 257 archives boxes + 360 cm. oversize bound volumes
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    79/130

Resources By Australian Railways Union - Victorian Branch. (20)

  1. Gazette (Australian Railways Union. Victorian Branch : 1981)
    [Periodical : 1955-1992]
  2. ARU gazette : official organ of the Australian Railways Union (Victorian Branch)
    [Periodical : 1980-1981]
  3. Mini gazette : official organ of the Australian Railways Union (Victorian Branch)
    [Periodical : 1900-2010]
  4. Report to national convention
    Australian Railways Union. Victorian Branch
    [Periodical : 1900-2010]
  5. Railways news & views
    [Periodical : 1900]
  6. The standard gauge
    [Periodical : 1987-1988]
  7. A.R.U. freight news
    [Periodical : 1986]
  8. Rules of the Australian Railways Union, Victorian Branch
    Australian Railways Union. Victorian Branch
    [Book : 1954]
  9. Information about their job which every railway worker should know / Australian Railways Union, Victorian Branch
    Australian Railways Union. Victorian Branch
    [Book : 1940-1949]
  10. We want justice from the A.L.P. / issued by the Victorian Branch of the Australian Railways Union
    [Book : 1944]

More...

No Comments for this organisation

Add a comment



  1. Website: Australian Labor Party, Victorian Branch
    www.vic.alp.org.au
    Matching pages:
    View 16 matching archived pages
  2. Website: Australian Women in War
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 12 matching archived pages
  3. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 19 matching archived pages
  1. "OPEN VICTIMISATION PREVAILS." Queensland Railwaymen. BETTER OFF UNDERE MOORE GOVERNMENT. Addressing a meeting of the Council of the Australian Railways Union in Melbourne yesterda...
    The Courier-Mail (Brisbane,..., Friday 1 December 1933 p 13
    ... the Australian Railways ways Union in Melbourne yesterday, Mr. T. Moroney, secretary of the Queensland branch, anch, said that the unemployed received infinitely less sustenance and consideration ... Australian Rail- ways Union. Mr. Moroney said that the advent of a Labour Government in Queens- land had ... 301 words
  2. "ONE BIG UNION." Proposal From Bendigo.
    The Argus (Melbourne,..., Tuesday 17 September 1929 p 16
    ... "ONE BIG UNION." Proposal From Bendigo. BENDIGO, Monday. - The Bendigo branch of the Australian Railways Union has decided to ask the central council of the organisation to convene a conference of the Australian Workers' Union and, the Australian Railways Union with the object of forming "one big ... 49 words
  3. CHIEF INDUSTRIAL MAGISTRATE'S COURT.
    The Sydney Morning Herald..., Tuesday 17 June 1924 p 6
    ... Industrial Magistrate. At a.m.—For hearing: Jackson v Churchill, The New South Wales Branch Australian Railways Union v Ryan, The New South Wales Branch Australian Railways Union v Squires, Bryant v Betta, Tho Federated Brick, Tile, and Pottery Industrial Union of Australia, New South Wales Branch, v ... 64 words