The Australian Railways Union (ARU) was an Australian trade union in existence from 1920 to 1993. The ARU was an industrial union, representing all types of workers employed in the rail industry, excluding locomotive enginedrivers and tradesmen in craft areas.

History

It was formed in September 1920, through the amalgamation of state-based unions in

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

, Victoria,

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

and

Tasmania Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...

, and was federally registered as a union on 8 February 1921. In 1976 it supported the anti-nuclear movement by carrying out a national strike which halted the transport of uranium. It merged with three other public transport unions in 1993 to form the Australian Rail Tram & Bus Industry Union.

References

{{Reflist 1920 establishments in Australia 1993 disestablishments in Australia Australian Council of Trade Unions Defunct trade unions of Australia Railway unions in Australia Trade unions disestablished in 1993 Trade unions established in 1920