Australian Manufacturing Workers Union

History

The Amalgamated Metal Workers Union (AMWU) was formed in 1972 with the amalgamation of three metal trade unions: the Boilermakers and Blacksmiths Society of Australia (BBS), the Sheet Metal Working Industrial Union of Australia (SMWU), and the Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU). At its formation, the AMWU had a membership of 171,000, making it the largest organisation in Australia by membership.

In 1979, the Federated Shipwrights and Ship Constructors Union of Australia amalgamated with the AMWU, which changed its name to the Amalgamated Metal Workers and Shipwrights Union (AMWSU). When the Federated Moulders’ (Metals) Union amalgamated in 1983, the union's name changed slightly to the Amalgamated Metals Foundry & Shipwrights’ Union, but in 1985 it reverted to being the Amalgamated Metal Workers’ Union. By 1987, the union's membership had declined slightly to 163,400.

During the 1980s, the AMWU played a pivotal role in securing the support of the left wing of the Australian union movement for the Prices and Incomes Accord, which involved unions agreeing to restrict their demands for wage increases in exchange for the federal government implementing policies to advance the 'social wage', including universal health insurance, investment in education, and social welfare.

In 1991, the AMWU amalgamated with the Association of Draughting Supervisory & Technical Employees (ADSTE) to create the Metals and Engineering Workers’ Union. Two years later, a further amalgamation with the Vehicle Builders Employees’ Federation of Australia resulted in the Automotive Metals & Engineering Union. In 1994, the union merged with the Confectionery Workers' and Food Preservers' Union, itself a recent amalgamation of the Food Preservers' Union of Australia and the Confectionery Workers' Union of Australia, to form the Automotive Food Metals and Engineering Union. Finally, the Printing and Kindred Industries Union amalgamated to form the printing division of the Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing, and Kindred Industries Union.

During the 1990s and 2000s, membership of the AMWU declined dramatically, reflecting the rapid decline of the manufacturing sector in Australia, falling from 200,000 in 1995 to 157,000 in 2005.

National Secretaries

:1973: Jack Garland :1981: Jack Kidd :1988: George Campbell :1996: Doug Cameron :2008: Dave Oliver :2012: Paul Bastian :2020: Steve Murphy

State Secretaries

:New South Wales & ACT: Brad Pidgeon (since 2024) :Victoria: Tony Mavromatis (since 2018) :Queensland & NT: Rowan Webb (since 2012) :Tasmania: Jacob Batt (since 2024) :South Australia: Stuart Gordon (since 2024) :Western Australia: Steve McCartney (since 2000)

Political Activity

The AMWU is one of the most powerful unions in the Labor Left faction of the Australian Labor Party. During the 2010 Australian federal election the CFMEU and AMWU donated a total of $60,000 to the Greens.

The South Australian branch of the AMWU was previously affiliated with Labor Unity, but has been affiliated with Labor Left since 2019. In WA, the AMWU allies with the United Workers Union in forming the majority left faction.

AMWU-Affiliated Members of Parliament

Multiple Labor politicians are affiliated with the AMWU. These include:

Western Australia (as of 2025)

Queensland

Shannon Fentiman is affiliated with the AMWU.

South Australia

Although South Australia has no current parliamentarians affiliated with the AMWU, fitter Hilton Gumbys is a Labor candidate for the Legislative Council at the upcoming March State election.

Former MP Jon Gee was affiliated with the AMWU.

Federal Parliament

References

References

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