The Ballarat Trades and Labour Council was formed in May 1882 and known as the Eight Hours Anniversary Committee. The Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council has been in existence from 1883 to the present day.These documents are part of the financial history of BTLC Building Fund and its activities over the period 1926-192?Paper (1 volume)btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, building fund, receipts, expenditure, finances

The 1890 Maritime Strike: marine officers walked out because shipowners would not negotiate terms and conditions of employment whilst the Mercantile Marine Officers' Association was affiliated with the Victorian Trades Hall Council. Union officials proposed to disaffiliate on the condition that employers would agree to meet and reach a compromise with union delegates. The shipowners refusal to meet triggered strike action.The Maritime Strike demonstrates an historical example of an employer's attempt to undermine workplace unionism. Parallels (i.e. employers attempting to weaken union power) have been drawn between this and the Australian waterfront dispute of 1998.Paper (1 volume)mercantile marine officers' association, strikes, btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, victorian trades hall council, unions, maritime strike, ballarat trades hall

Broken Hill strike (1892) was driven by the Women's Brigade and local miners to defend the mines from imported labour. Strike action became infeasible as main persons were arrested for "unlawful conspiracy and inciting riots" and were imprisoned. The Illawarra Miners' Mutual Protective Association Strike (1886) was to secure better rates of pay. The Eight Hours Demonstration (1891) was held in December 1891 as part of the campaign for the Eight Hour Day: 8 hours work, 8 hours rest and 8 hours recreation.The BTLC supported the Broken Hill strike and the Illawarra Miners' Mutual Protective Association Strike. Historically, BTLC was formed out of the Ballarat Eight Days Anniversary Committee. Three items in one folder.eight hours anniversary committee, eight hour day, btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, illawarra miners' mutual protective association strike, broken hill strike, strikes, unions, pay rates, imported labour, women's brigade, miners, ballarat trades hall

The 1890 Maritime Strike: marine officers walked out because shipowners would not negotiate terms and conditions of employment whilst the Mercantile Marine Officers' Association was affiliated with the Victorian Trades Hall Council. Union officials proposed to disaffiliate on the condition that employers would agree to meet and reach a compromise with union delegates. The shipowners refusal to meet triggered strike action.The Maritime Strike demonstrates an historical example of an employer's attempt to undermine workplace unionism. Parallels (i.e. employers attempting to weaken union power) have been drawn between this and the Australian waterfront dispute of 1998.Paper in folder.maritime strike, btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, unions, strikes, victorian trades hall council, vthc, mercantile marine officers' association, ballarat trades hall

Ballarat Trades Hall was part of the Intercolonial Trades Hall Congresses created for the purposes of collective organising within labour organisations. There were eight Congresses held within Australia: - 1879 Sydney - 1884 Melbourne - 1885 Sydney - 1886 Adelaide - 1888 Brisbane - 1889 Hobart - 1891 Ballarat (after the Maritime Strike in 1890) The political organisation of the labour movement and of restructuring trade union organisation under the Australasian Federation of Labour were significant agenda items. - 1898 Adelaide The following items were regularly discussed: - legislation of trade unions- organisation of labour - abolition of ‘Chinese and coolie immigration’ - Compulsory Court of Arbitration - Employers Liability Act - legalisation of the 8 hours system - land nationalisation - manhood suffrage - direct representation of labour in Parliament - appointment of working men on technical and other boards - free compulsory and secular education by the state and regulation of apprentices. Some of the resolutions passed were about: - Commonwealth Draft Bill - assisted immigration - payment to Members of Parliament - single tax, paid union organisers - minimum wage and industrial federation. See also http://archives.anu.edu.au/files/document-collection/intercolonial-trade-union-congresses-web-final.pdfTopics of discussion show the union/labour movement's ongoing activism and engagement on parliamentary and union matters, organising and employment on a national scale.1 volumeunions, organising, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, legislation, immigration, court of arbitration, employers liability act, land nationalisation, manhood suffrage, parliament, education, taxation, union organisers, wages, commonwealth draft bill

Ballarat Trades Hall was part of the Intercolonial Trades Hall Congresses that were created for the purposes of collective organising within labour organisations. There were eight Congresses within Australia that regularly discussed: - legislation of trade unions - organisation of labour - abolition of ‘Chinese and coolie immigration’ - Compulsory Court of Arbitration - Employers Liability Act - legalisation of the 8 hours system - land nationalisation - manhood suffrage - direct representation of labour in Parliament - appointment of working men on technical and other boards - free compulsory and secular education by the state and regulation of apprentices. Some of the resolutions passed related to: - the Commonwealth Draft Bill - assisted immigration - payment to Members of Parliament - single tax - paid union organisers, - minimum wage - industrial federation. The minutes and the Congress show BTLC's ongoing engagement with industrial , social and education matters on a wide scale.Paperbtlc, ballarat trades and labour council, unions, ballarat trades hall, union organisers, wages, industrial federation, taxation, parliament, members of parliament, immigration, commonwealth draft bill, education, land nationalisation, manhood suffrage, employers liability act, court of arbitration, chinese

Ballarat Trades Hall was part of the Intercolonial Trades Hall Congresses created for the purposes of collective organising within labour organisations. There were eight Congresses held within Australia. See 0019-0026.The receipts are part of the history of the 7th Intercolonial Trades Hall Congress in Ballarat and are a record of its incoming finances.Paper in folder.ballarat trades and labour council, ballarat trades hall, btlc, 7th intercolonial trades hall congress, finances, receipts

Ballarat Trades Hall was part of the Intercolonial Trades Hall Congresses created for the purposes of collective organising within labour organisations. There were eight Congresses held within Australia. See 0019-0026.The receipts are part of the history of the 7th Intercolonial Trades Hall Congress in Ballarat and are a record of its incoming finances.Bookbtlc, ballarat trades and labour council, ballarat trades hall, finances, organising, unions, 7th intercolonial trades hall congress

Ballarat Trades Hall was part of the Intercolonial Trades Hall Congresses created for the purposes of collective organising within labour organisations. There were eight Congresses held within Australia. See 0019-0026.The receipts are part of the history of the 7th Intercolonial Trades Hall Congress in Ballarat and are a record of its expenditure.Bookbtlc, ballarat trades and labour council, ballarat trades hall, 7th intercolonial trades hall congress, organising, unions, finances

Ballarat Trades Hall was part of the Intercolonial Trades Hall Congresses created for the purposes of collective organising within labour organisations. There were eight Congresses held within Australia. See 0019-0026.The bank book is part of the history of the 7th Intercolonial Trades Hall Congress in Ballarat and is part of its financial records.Bank bookbtlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, bank book, organising, finances, unions, 7th intercolonial trades hall congress

The Ballarat Unemployed Association was a collective in the 1930s advocating for the welfare and rights of unemployed persons. For example, a deputation from BUA approached council in 1931 with a request to waive council rate payments in exchange for volunteer labour.Of significance to matters of employment and social equity in the Ballarat region.Paper, two bound volumes (E97/27/1-2)ballarat unemployed associaton, btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, ballarat trades hall, employment, minutes, welfare

The Ballarat Unemployed Association was a collective in the 1930s advocating for the welfare and rights of unemployed persons. The minutes of the social committee constitute part of the history of this group. The minutes include details of subscriptions to various functions that were arranged. See also 0036.1 bound volumeballarat unemployed association, btlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, unemployment, minutes, welfare, social clubs

A Trades Hall Council-sponsored organisation co-ordinating the self help activities of the Ballarat unemployed during the 1930s depression. (1935-1940) Significant to history and operations of Ballarat Sustenance and Relief Workers' Union.Paper (1 item)ballarat sustenance and relief workers' union, btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, ballarat trades hall, unemployment, the great depression, constitution, rules, unions

A Trades Hall Council-sponsored organisation co-ordinating the self help activities of the Ballarat unemployed during the 1930s depression. (1935-1940)The minutes are significant to the history and operations of Ballarat Sustenance and Relief Workers' Union.6 bound volumesballarat sustenance and relief workers' union, btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, unions, unemployment, the great depression, ballarat trades hall, minutes

Ballarat Sustenance and Relief Workers' Union was a Trades Hall Council-sponsored organisation co-ordinating the self help activities of the Ballarat unemployed during the 1930s depression. (1935-1940) Central Unemployed Committee was established in Melbourne by Victorian Trades Hall Council in 1933. The Committee was known to actively lobby against work for the dole schemes.The file forms part of the history of "unemployed unions" during The Great Depression. It also highlights attempts by previous Australian governments to impose "work for the dole" on to unemployed persons in exchange for unemployment benefits. Paper in folder.unemployment, dole, central unemployed committee, victorian trades hall council, btlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, work for the dole, ballarat sustenance and relief workers' union, the great depression

Ballarat Sustenance and Relief Workers' Union was a Trades Hall Council-sponsored organisation co-ordinating the self help activities of the Ballarat unemployed during the 1930s depression. (1935-1940)Union tickets were important as evidence of proving financial union membership.Paper - union ticket.unions, btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, ballarat sustenance and relief workers' union, union ticket, pence cards, ballarat trades hall, unemployment, the great depression

Ballarat Sustenance and Relief Workers' Union was a Trades Hall Council-sponsored organisation co-ordinating the self help activities of the Ballarat unemployed during the 1930s depression. (1935-1940)Pence cards were important as evidence of proving financial membership of unions.3 cardsE. Constable T. Quigleyconstable, r., quigley, t., btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, ballarat trades hall, unions, union tickets, ballarat sustenance and relief workers' union, unemployment

Several unemployed strike actions took place in the thirties to improve relief assistance to unemployed persons. Assistance could be in the form of food rations, money or nothing at all. State governments paid very small amounts of unemployment relief that were funded by state taxes. More information about unemployed strike actions and unemployed unions can be found at Solidarity Online: http://www.solidarity.net.au/highlights/organising-the-unemployed-dole-strikes-and-the-1930s-depression/ Ballarat Sustenance and Relief Workers' Union was a Trades Hall Council-sponsored organisation co-ordinating the self help activities of the Ballarat unemployed during the 1930s depression.Unemployed strikes in the 1930s showed the power of collective action and are a strong part of the history of Ballarat and other Trades Halls. Unemployed strike actions are also part of the history of The Great Depression and the beginning of a state-funded welfare system for unemployed persons.Paper, one bound volume.unemployed strike committee, minutes, btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, the great depression, strikes, susso, dole, unemployment, unemployment benefits, victorian trades hall council, vthc, rationing, rationing, unemployed workers movement, uwm, ballarat sustenance and relief workers' union, ballarat trades hall

Mothers' Social Club, Ballarat/Unemployed Mothers' Club was formed during The Great Depression in Ballarat. The minutes also include minutes of the Ballarat Unemployed Association Committee meetings. It is assumed that the two groups had some parallel interests and that they met under the auspices of Ballarat Trades Hall.Of significance to matters of women's rights, collective action, employment and social equity in the Ballarat region.Paper, binding - 1 volume.mothers' social club, ballarat, unemployed mothers' club, the great depression, minutes, ballarat unemployed association committee, ballarat trades hall, btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, women, unemployment, employment, equity

The Progressive Political League was formed in 1891 after the 1890 Maritime Workers Strike; it subsequently became the Australian Labor Party. This object includes the organisation's constitution. The PPL is also contemporaneous with the defeat of the Shearer's Strike (1891). Its platform included "electoral reform, reform of the labour laws, social reform and supported Federation on a ‘democratic basis’." (Anarchist Age 2008). More information about the formation of the Progressive Political League in Victoria can be found at http://anarchistmedia.org/pdf/701-800/AAWR-07768.htmlProvides significant background to the formation of the ALP and political activity around the period of significant industrial actions and Australian Federation. The minutes are from the Ballarat West Branch of the League.Paper, 1 bound volume.ballarat trades and labour council, btlc, progressive political league of victoria, ballarat west, minutes, ppl, federation council, alp, australian labor party, maritime workers' strike, shearer's strike

The Progressive Political League was formed in 1891 after the 1890 Maritime Workers Strike; it subsequently became the Australian Labor Party. The PPL is also contemporaneous with the defeat of the Shearer's Strike (1891). Its platform included "electoral reform, reform of the labour laws, social reform and supported Federation on a ‘democratic basis’." (Anarchist Age 2008). More information about the formation of the Progressive Political League in Victoria can be found at http://anarchistmedia.org/pdf/701-800/AAWR-07768.htmlProvides significant background to the formation of the ALP and political activity around the period of significant industrial actions and Australian Federation. The correspondence is from the Ballarat West Branch of the League.Paper in folder.ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, btlc, ppl, progressive political league, maritime workers' strike, shearer's strike, alp, australian labour party, federation, correspondence

The Progressive Political League was formed in 1891 after the 1890 Maritime Workers Strike; it subsequently became the Australian Labor Party. The PPL is also contemporaneous with the defeat of the Shearer's Strike (1891). Its platform included "electoral reform, reform of the labour laws, social reform and supported Federation on a ‘democratic basis’." (Anarchist Age 2008). More information about the formation of the Progressive Political League in Victoria can be found at http://anarchistmedia.org/pdf/701-800/AAWR-07768.html More information about the history of the PPL and its political fortunes can be found in Paul Strangio's book, "Neither Power Nor Glory". PPL enjoyed some political success in Victoria around this time, but it was unsustainable due to the loose political allegiances of some of the candidates. (Strangio 2012). Committee reports are part of the history of the PPL and the ALP's early attempts to gain parliamentary representation. Reports held are from the Ballarat West Branch.Paper in folder.ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, alp, ppl, progressive political league of victoria, elections, labor, australian labor party, parliament, btlc

The Progressive Political League was formed in 1891 after the 1890 Maritime Workers Strike; it subsequently became the Australian Labor Party. The PPL is also contemporaneous with the defeat of the Shearer's Strike (1891). Its platform included "electoral reform, reform of the labour laws, social reform and supported Federation on a ‘democratic basis’." (Anarchist Age 2008). More information about the formation of the Progressive Political League in Victoria can be found at http://anarchistmedia.org/pdf/701-800/AAWR-07768.html More information about the history of the PPL and its political fortunes can be found in Paul Strangio's book, "Neither Power Nor Glory". PPL enjoyed some political success in Victoria around this time, but it was unsustainable due to the loose political allegiances of some of the candidates. (Strangio 2012). The balance sheets are a financial record of activity around the Ballarat West Election.Paperbtlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, balance sheets, finances, elections, progressive political league of victoria, ppl, maritime workers strike, shearer's strike, alp, australian labor party, reform, federation

Constitution of the Political Labor Council of Victoria can be found at http://tinyurl.com/politicallabourcouncilvic. It has platforms at federal, state and municipal levels. The state platform includes land policy, financial policy including restriction of public borrowing, reform of parliamentary structure, industrial regulation, free education, support for technical education and adequate pensions.Comprises part of the history of Ballarat's participation in the Political Labor Council of Victoria.Paperpolitical labor council of victoria, btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, ballarat trades hall, public borrowing, constitution, reform, parliament, education

The ledger is part of the financial recordkeeping of the Political Labor Council of Victoria, Ballarat Branch. Constitution of the Political Labor Council of Victoria can be found at http://tinyurl.com/politicallabourcouncilvic. It had platforms at federal, state and municipal levels. The state platform includes land policy, financial policy including restriction of public borrowing, reform of parliamentary structure, industrial regulation, free education, support for technical education and adequate pensions.Constitutes part of the history of the Political Labor Council of Victoria. Financial transactions. Paper ledger - one volume.political labor council of victoria - ballarat branch, btlc, ballarat regional trades and labour council, finance - record keeping

Labour history of Ballarat from 1892 to 2006. Significant to the history and growth of the labour movement in Ballarat.Paper; book; 321 pagesbtlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, gold, alp, australian labor party, elections, politicians, working classes, workplace relations, industrial relations, politics, government

Photograph: Norm Borchers with Colin Cleary Colin Cleary is the author of "Ballarat Labor". The photograph is taken at the book launch at Ballarat Trades Hall. Norm Borchers contributed many stories to Cleary's book. Several copies of the book are held at Ballarat Trades Hall and are available for loan. Cleary also wrote a book called "Bendigo Labor". Norm Borchers passed away in 2008. Borchers was a Club President of the Sebastopol Lions Club (1975-76). He worked for the railways as an engineering employee and was long-term trade unionist (Amalgamated Engineering Union and the Australian Railways Union) and ALP member; he lived and worked in the Ballarat area. Norm was active in workplace disputes during the ALP split in 1955. He was a long time supporter of Ballarat Trades Hall. PhotographInscription on back: Norm Borchers with Colin Cleary - Author "Ballarat Labor" at the Launch, 22/7/07 Ballarat Trades Hall. Norm contributed a lot of the stories of Ballarat Labor to Colin's book.btlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, borchers, norm, cleary, colin, alp, australian labor party, unions, ballarat labor, history