The Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU), originally known as the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, was an Australian

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits (s ...

which existed between 1852 and 1973. It represented

engineers Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who Invention, invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considerin ...

, as well as some other metal trades workers.

History

The first Australian branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers was formed in Sydney in 1852 by 27 members of the British union who had emigrated to Australia following a

lockout Lockout may refer to: * Lockout (industry), a type of work stoppage ** Dublin Lockout, a major industrial dispute between approximately 20,000 workers and 300 employers 1913 - 1914 * Lockout (sports), lockout in sports leagues **MLB lockout, loc ...

in Britain. While the Australian section was the first overseas branch of the union to be formed, several others were established over the course of the 19th century, including in Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and the United States. In 1890 a breakaway group formed the Australasian Society of Engineers, dissatisfied with the union being controlled from Britain. The ASE was to continue to operate in parallel to the AEU throughout its history, and the two organisations were bitter rivals in organising engineering workers.

Amalgamated Engineering Union Interstate Conference Melbourne 1927

In 1921, following the amalgamation of the parent ASE union with several smaller British engineering unions, the Society was renamed the

Amalgamated Engineering Union The Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) was a major British trade union. It merged with the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union to form the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union in 1992. History The history of ...

. In February 1938 the Australian branch was deregistered, but was re-established later the same year, to be known as the Amalgamated Engineering Union (Australian Section). In 1969 the Australian branch separated from its British parent union, forming an autonomous union known simply as the Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU). In 1972 the union began amalgamating with the Sheet Metal Working Industrial Union of Australia, the Boilermakers and Blacksmiths' Society of Australia and the

Federated Jewellers, Watchmakers and Allied Trades Union of Australia Federated may refer to: * Federated state, a constituent state within a federal state * Federated school, a model of administration in some educational institutions * Federated congregation, a type of religious congregation Computing * Fed ...

. Between 1976 and 1983, this new union was called the Amalgamated Metal Workers & Shipwrights Union, before becoming the Amalgamated Metal Workers' Union (AMWU).

Constitutional Law

The ASE was famous for its involvement in the landmark 1920

High Court of Australia The High Court of Australia is Australia's apex court. It exercises original and appellate jurisdiction on matters specified within Australia's Constitution. The High Court was established following passage of the ''Judiciary Act 1903''. It ...

case, '' Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd.'', more popularly known as the ''Engineers' case'', which overturned the doctrine of

implied intergovernmental immunities In Australia, the doctrine of intergovernmental immunity defines the circumstances in which Commonwealth laws can bind the States, and where State laws can bind the Commonwealth. This is distinct from the doctrine of crown immunity, as well as th ...

, significantly altering the balance of power in Australian

federalism Federalism is a combined or compound mode of government that combines a general government (the central or "federal" government) with regional governments (provincial, state, cantonal, territorial, or other sub-unit governments) in a single po ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amalgamated Society Of Engineers (Australia) Engineering trade unions Defunct trade unions of Australia 1852 establishments in Australia 1938 disestablishments in Australia Trade unions established in 1852 Trade unions disestablished in 1938 Trade unions disestablished in 1972