Unions in Victoria

Victoria's political history has in many ways been defined by the union movement, from the late 19^th century to present day.

Like many Victorian political developments, the existence of unions in Victoria can be credited to the stonemasons winning the right to an 8-hour day without a reduction in pay. When this happened, other trades and services wanted to achieve the same rights, and the number of unions began to rise.

However, these unions were initially only made accessible to a select group of trade workers. Most of the workers accepted into unions were male, employed, and of British descent. Women, the poor or unemployed, Aborigines and immigrants – like the Chinese – were often excluded.

In August 1890, the union movement brought Melbourne to a standstill with a maritime workers' dispute. Shearers, waterside workers and sailors joined forces and went on strike in a complicated dispute with employers.

On 31 August 1890, nearly 100,000 people – in a city of 400,000 – overwhelmed the streets of Melbourne and the banks of the Yarra in an enormous rally of support. Some 50,000 people were thrown out of work throughout Victoria because of the strike, including gas stokers, so an eerie darkness hung over Melbourne.

Social chaos followed, and the Victorian government rounded up over 1,000 military volunteers to boost police numbers to take on the unionists:

You will each be supplied with forty rounds of ammunition and leaden bullets and if the order is given to fire, don't let me see one rifle pointed up in the air. Fire low and lay them out.

– Colonel Tom Price

Despite such intimidation, the maritime workers remained on strike for almost two months, but were eventually defeated, agreeing to their employers' terms and returning to work. After the defeat, unions began exploring politics as a way of spreading their message and promoting the rights of workers.

Unionists formed Labor parties, and their members stood for election and entered parliament in order to advance laws and community reforms that reflected the ideas and interests of workers.

Despite government restructuring of the workplace and falling numbers, unions continue to play an important role in Australia today in the ongoing quest for fairness and equality in the workplace.