The Birth of an Organising Union

*
1888: First attempt to unionise
February 1901 was not the first time
that Sydney’s trollymen, draymen,
and carters had met to form a union.
They had done so with high hopes in
Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1907), Saturday 13 September 1890, page 12
STILL DRAGGING ALGNG.
Strike.
COAL SUPPLIES FAILING.
“The Trolly and
SILVER MINES SHUT DOWN.
Draymen’s Union
MANY THOUSANDS OCT OF EMPLOY.
... decided to place
themselves entirely
in the hands of the
Defence Committee,
and to strike at a
moment’s notice
EMPLOYERS
when called upon to
do so.”
The disastrous marit mo strike is still dragging
now along, and has fairly engulphed in its
meshes the whole of tint commerce, trade,
and labor of the Austi alian colonies. The
themselves
Trades and Labor leaders express
ss very anxious for a conference with the
Shipowners' and Employers' Union, but tho latter
aro of opinion that no ci'.icient basis can be arrived
at until th*y aro allowed to havo some freedom
shall not em
of action as to whom they shall or
ploy, and whether their busine.-s shall bu kept in
constant disruption through tho dictation of the
several unioas. To discuss and decide thia
point and to settle a number of vexed questions,
tho
ASSOCIATED SHIPOWNERS AND
mat in conference on tho afternoon of September
0 at t' o Chamber cf Commerce. There wero
present representatives of the Steamship Owners'
Associations of New South WalcB, Victoria, and
South Australia, tho Employers' Unions of New
South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and
Queensland, tho Pastoralists' Unions of this
colony and Victoria, the Associated Colliery
Owners of this colony, and various other kindred
Sydney Morning Herald,
associations wore represented. On tho motion of
Mr. Henry Hudson,
Union of New South Wales, seconded
11 September 1890
president of the Employers'
by Mr. W.
of the Steamship Owners'
chairman O, "Willis,
Association of Australasia, Mr. E. M. Young,
general manager of the Australian M'