Whilst the history of trade unions in South Australia is well documented, we invite you to take a look into its history through the archives, photographs and newspapers in the State Library's collections.
The story of trade unions in South Australia began the same year that Europeans began emigrating to SA. The South Australia Company, established in London on 9 October 1835, was a commercial enterprise involved in the business of enabling emigration and settlement to South Australia. By 1836, the Company had sailed four ships to South Australia, and it was the crew on the fourth ship, the Emma, that formed the first industrial dispute. The crew were seeking extra wages, and were joined by passengers and settlers in their threat to strike. The Company’s manager Charles Simeon Hare writes to George Fife Angas, one of the founders of the Company, to tell of the dispute.
“Six or seven of the Emma’s crew Hutton, Barnet, Howland, Palmer, Thompson, Lyne, Canfield, and others joined the men previously mentioned – and they held meetings formed societies etc. to coerce Mr. Stephen’s their first rule being to strike one and all when a man was discharged for any cause whatever and refuse to work until he was again employed.” ~ Angas Papers SLSA: PRG 174
Early labour legislation
By early 1837, the then Governor and the Council of South Australia passed legislation that placed the workers into a contract and made the withdrawal of their labour punishable by imprisonment. This was known as An Act for the summary determination of all disputes between Masters and Servants, 4 January 1837
In 1839 the South Australian Builders Trades Union Society advertised a meeting to discuss the regulation of prices and wages. The success or otherwise of this meeting is not recorded, but the advertisement further reveals the activity of trades unions in the early province.
With the continuing arrival of wealthy British and European migrants in South Australia, there was a growth in agriculture, land speculation, and industry. The catalyst that made way for the next labour law was the discovery of copper in the Burra region. This led to increasing calls for laws that would control labour and provide terms of imprisonment for workers who withdrew their labour.
In 1847, the pastoralist and Burra mine owner Captain Charles Bagot, introduced An Ordinance to Amend the laws relating to Masters and Servants into the Legislative Council. It attracted considerable organised opposition. Meetings were held in Adelaide and Glen Osmond, with resolutions passed that were widely publicised and supported by local newspapers.
The Southern Australian (Wednesday 14 April 1847) published an editorial supporting the bill, which you can read on Trove titled ‘Masters’ and Servants’ Act’, but with such strong opposition to the Act, the Governor of South Australia, Frederick Robe stated,
"as this measure seemed to him to require a great deal of consideration, he would prefer a little more time before bringing it again under discussion".
~ Governor Frederick Robe
But opposition was not sufficient to stop the Bill and it was reintroduced to the Legislative Council and passed on 23 July 1847.
“II. And be it Enacted, that if any Person shall contract with another to serve him as a servant for any time whatsoever, or in any manner, and shall not enter into or commence his service according to his Contract (such Contract being in writing), or having entered into such service, shall absent himself therefrom before the term of his contract … then and in every such case it shall and may be lawful for any Two or more Justices of the Peace, on conviction, to commit every such Offender to the House of Correction, there to remain for a reasonable time, not exceeding Three calendar months; or in lieu thereof, to punish the said Offender by abating the whole or any part of his Wages..”
~ Ordinance to amend the laws relating to Masters and Servants Act, 1847 (SA) s II
Early campaigns and protests
During the mid to late 1800s, there was much activity that affected and impacted workers and their rights in South Australia. With the 1851 Victorian Gold Rush commencing there were shortages of workers, as many sought their fortune on the gold fields. In 1856 South Australia had a new Constitution that heralded responsible government and replaced the rule of the Governor with the rule of the people through representation. Also in 1856, across the border in Victoria, stonemasons downed their tools and walked off the job in protest of employers refusing to reduce their working hours. An agreement was reached whereby stonemasons worked no longer than an eight-hour a day.
This may have bolstered and influenced South Australian workers who were seeking better workplace conditions and formed their own Eight-Hour Day campaign. The campaign was won by a few organised labour unions in 1873. The campaign continued into the early 1900s and slowly but surely the eight-hour a day became a workplace condition that was adopted in South Australian workplaces. Many celebrations took place to commemorate this hard-won victory in improving working conditions.
Eight-hour-day demonstration, Wakefield Street, Adelaide in 1885. SLSA: B 45731
A celebratory procession in Victor Harbor, 1910, to commemorate the granting of the eight-hour working day for South Australians. It recognizes workers' contributions towards the nation's economy. SLSA: B 15817
A horse-drawn wagon carrying the South Australian Drivers' Association banner in front of the Adelaide High School, Grote Street, Adelaide in 1911, prior to taking part in the Eight-Hour-Day procession. The wagon also carries a sign proclaiming "No peace until we get eight hours'. SLSA: PRG 280/1/8/432
"It was remarkable what a warm welcome the representatives of any of the Port Adelaide societies secured. The drivers laid it down that there would be "No peace until we get eight hours", and with little to work on the Port Adelaide Drivers' Association made one of the prettiest sections of the whole display. It brought forth cheers from all along the street, which were richly deserved. The horses' harness was most tastefully decorated, and one general colour scheme added to the effectiveness of the turnout." ~ The Observer newspaper of 21 October 1911, page 49
A horse-drawn dray owned by the Walkerville Co-operative Brewing Company Ltd. decorated for an Eight-Hour Day parade in Adelaide, 1923. The horses wear plumes and brasses as they pull the cart which is loaded with barrels of various sizes piled into a pyramid shape and decorated with two flags. SLSA: PRG 280/1/42/207
Trade Unionism legalised
In 1871, the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the British Trade Union Act of 1871, which legalised trade unions for the first time. South Australia soon followed suit, in 1876, and became the first territory outside of the British Empire to legalise the Trade Union movement.
“The purposes of any Trade Union shall not, by reason merely that they are in restraint of trade, be deemed to be unlawful so as to render any member of such Trade Union liable to criminal prosecution for conspiracy, or otherwise.” ~ The Trade Union Act, 1876 (SA) s 2
With the legal right to collectively represent their trades, it made sense that the various unions should come together to form a united council. On 31 January 1884, a meeting at the Bristol Tavern in Adelaide to form the United Trades and Labour Council of South Australia (UTLCSA).
“a large and representative meeting of delegates from the various trade and labour societies in South Australia,” ~ The South Australian Register, 2 February 1884.
Women in the South Australian union movement
With reformed labour relations rising in prominence, so to was social change for women and their rights. During the mid-1850s the Women's Suffrage movement in South Australia was well underway. More women began to work in paid labour and were impacted by the vagaries of relations with their employers. As a result, the Working Women's Trades Union (WWTU) was formed in March 1890 and applied for UTLC affiliation, with suffragists Mary Lee and Auguste Zadow heavily involved in the campaign.
“Wherever a noble deed is done, ‘tis the pulse of a hero’s heart is stirred. Wherever the right hath a triumph won, there are the heroes’ voices heard” ~ Mary Lee,
Adelaide Observer, Sat 22 March 1890, page 8. NLA: Trove
On 15 March 1890 social and political activist Mary Lee wrote a long letter to the Adelaide Observer welcoming the formation of the Working Women's Trades Union and the need for this development to be followed by the franchise. It was published in ‘The Ladies’ Page’ under the title ‘Letter to Women’ By Mary Lee, read it in full on Trove. Mary Lee became the secretary of the union.
Later in June, a meeting of the UTLC was held at the Selborne Hotel, where Mrs Agnes Milne, Mrs Reuin and Miss Vincent were welcomed as delegates. They joined Mary Lee, the secretary and Alexander Zadow the Treasurer to progress the campaign for working women’s rights.
Zadow was a trade unionist and factory inspector who championed the fight against low-wages and poor conditions for female workers in the South Australian clothing trade. On 29 March 1895 the Secretary of the UTLC wrote to WWTU delegate Zadow acknowledging her resignation as a delegate and congratulating her on her appointment as "Inspectress under the Factories Act", the first woman to be appointed in this position in South Australia. Auguste Zadow's tenure was brief and she died in 1896, her passing marked by her obituary on the front page of the UTLC paper, The Weekly Herald.
The Selborne Hotel was located at 44 Pirie Street on the north side and was an early meeting place for the United Trades and Labor Council. The hotel ceased trading in 1970 and was later demolished. This photo was taken 25 November 1935. SLSA: B 6735
‘Our Roll of Honor. In memorium – Mrs Auguste Zadow’, The Weekly Herald, Adelaide, SA. 17 July 1898. NLA: Trove
Photograph of Mary Lee, South Australian suffragist, in the front garden of the Davies' home in Barnard Street, North Adelaide. SLSA: B 70648
After World War One
Post-WWI conditions led to some serious labour confrontations due to lack of job opportunities and the economic downturn. In September 1928, 400 wharfies protested the use of scab labour in a protest described by The Register newspaper as a ‘Serious Riot on the waterfront’.
The following year, in the United States, the Wall Street stock exchange collapsed, which sparked a worldwide economic depression. Known as the ‘Great Depression’ of the 1930s, it brought more challenges for South Australian unions and their membership. On 9 January 1931 unionists joined to protest the South Australian government’s decision to remove beef from rations for the unemployed, leading to a protest, that The News newspaper reported as a ‘Riot in Adelaide streets after unemployed parade’. This protest parade became known as ‘The Beef March’.
The Great Depression was followed by the Second World War and a return to near full employment. Men joined the campaign to fight, and women found themselves in the paid workforce in greater numbers than ever before.
Read the fill article - ‘Serious riot on the waterfront’ The Register, Adelaide, 28 September 1928. NLA: Trove
South Bank of the River Torrens, behind the Zoological Gardens, shows huts of hessian and wood that were occupied by homeless men during the depression of 1930. The removal of all huts occupied by unemployed was ordered by the City Council to take place early in 1938. SLSA: B 5800
"Riot in Adelaide streets after unemployed parade", a parade that would become known as the 'Beef March'. The News, January 9 1931, page 1. NLA: Trove
After World War Two and beyond
The social changes from WWII brought new agendas to the union movement. Campaigns for equal pay and the cessation of forced retirement of women once they married became the new focus and these issues bought with it permanent changes to Australian unionism and society.
The era of globalisation brought with it the introduction of robots to manufacturing, computers in almost all aspects of business, and the introduction of the internet have all affected aspects of the workplace during the late 20th century. This has led to considerable restructuring of the Australian workforce and a general reduction in union membership. The Australian Federal Government has introduced several workplace relations laws since late 2000, some successful, and some not.
With the information age now upon us, the internet and mobile devices, advances in technology, and the developing world of artificial intelligence have brought further challenges and advantages to workplaces and workplace relations. Working from home was once a dream, but during 2020 many workers experienced a shift towards working from home during the COVID19 pandemic. Mobile devices, access to wifi and mobile data allow many workers to connect to their business systems remotely, allowing flexibility in who and where people can work.
“Trade unions represent the aspirations and rights of millions of Australian workers. They are a vital force in our democracy.” ~ Bob Hawke
The Union Movement in South Australia began in reaction to unfair working conditions at the very beginning of the state. The movement ebbs and flows in reaction to societal and economic changes, but the fact that in our country we can have trade unions representing workers shows democracy at work. South Australian unions, and indeed Australian unions, might be facing declining membership, largely due to workplace reform and relation laws becoming more robust and reflective of issues faced by today’s society. But they are still an important part of the Australian workplace fabric, as they enable a unified voice for workers facing workplace upheaval or change.
Story written by the Engagement and Marketing team
More to explore
Explore Union related photos in the catalogue
South Australia Company, summary record
Passenger lists of the South Australia Company emigrants and other documents
Catalogue summary record for George Fife Angas
Explore more photographs featuring Eight-hour days processions and celebrations.
Moss, J. (1985) Sound of trumpets: History of the Labour Movement in South Australia. Netley: Wakefield Press.