Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia

[5] The strike action led to the formation in 1917 of the Permanent & Casual Wharf Labourers Union of Australia in opposition to the Waterside Workers' Federation.

In 1928, the Nationalist government of Stanley Bruce amended the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act to require industrial courts to consider the economic effects of its awards in addition to the welfare of workers.

[8] Bruce pushed the Transport Workers Act through parliament in September, which gave the government unprecedented regulatory power in industrial relations.

In 1938 the union, through the efforts of Port Kembla Branch Secretary Ted Roach, played a key role in the Dalfram dispute which drew attention to Japan's undeclared war in China and famously led to Robert Menzies being known as Pig Iron Bob.

[11] During the Indonesian National Revolution, the WWF placed a "black ban" on Dutch colonial ships going to Indonesia as a show of solidarity.

The government pressed ahead in 1956 with new legislation aimed at weakening the federation and the improvements it had gained in working conditions and safety provisions.

[11] In the 1960s containerisation began to replace break bulk as the main means of transporting cargo, dramatically reducing the need for waterfront labour.

[2] In 1991, the WWF amalgamated with the Australian Foremen Stevedore Association but retained the name Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia.

[1] The Communist Party of Australia (CPA) was formed in October 1920, and achieved significant influence in the Australian trade union movement, especially in New South Wales.

Members of the CPA would play a prominent role throughout the history of the Waterside Workers' Federation, including officials such as Big Jim Healy and Tas Bull, and the union was regarded as Communist-led.

[19] Waterside Workers' Federation Film Unit was established in 1953 by Norma Disher, Keith Gow and Jock Levy.

[20] It was based at the Waterside Workers' Federation Hall located at 60 Sussex Street, which also became the venue for productions by the New Theatre from 1954 to 1962.