Michael Austin (1855 – 18 February 1916) was an Irish politician and trade unionist.
Born in Cork, Austin was educated at a Christian Brothers school before completing an apprenticeship as a compositor.
[1] He was a leading member of the Cork Trades Council, and in 1890 was the founding secretary of the Irish Democratic Trade and Labour Federation, a body which aimed to bring about the political representation of workers in rural areas of Ireland.
[2] The Federation's other leading member was Michael Davitt, and he persuaded the anti-Parnellite Irish National Federation to stand Austin and Eugene Crean as two trade union candidates in the 1892 general election.
[1] The Federation could not retain his energies after election to parliament, resulting in its discipitation.