Radicalism in the rank-and-file shop committee and assembly movements in Australian trade unions from 1930-1960 - Progress Review 3, Joseph Stark

This project is concerned with the history of the shop and job committee movements in detail from the 1930s to the late 1950s. In doing so, a clearer picture of the rank-and-file radicalism of this period emerges that demonstrates that this movement was deeply democratic, militant and radical in its approach to shopfloor issues and to the everyday lives of workers in heavily unionised industries. This thesis focuses on three key unions: the Australian Railways Union, the Amalgamated Engineering Union and the Building Workers Industrial Union. By examining primary sources such as newspapers, union journals, branch, sub-branch and shop committee records, this study shows the everyday contribution of workers in improving their working conditions. The study of the shop and job committee movement in this period, shows the degree of vitality in this movement. In a world where unionism is weakened and employers are stronger than workers, this period shows some of possibilities open to workers today to improve their working lives and conditions.