Summary

The first mining unions formed in coal mining districts in the late 1800s. The Australasian Coal Miners' Association was registered federally in 1913.

The United Mineworkers Federation of Australia was formed in 1990 and continued until 1992.

Mining and enegy workers were represented by the CFMEU (Construction, Forestry., Mining and Energy Union, which later became the Construction, Forestry, Mining, Maritime and Energy Union) for several decades from 1993. However they separated from that union in 2023 when the Mining and Energy Union was registered on 1 December.

Details

The first mining unions formed in coal mining districts in the late 1800s. (Mining and Energy Union, 2023)

According to Bruce Smith, the Australasian Coal Miners' Association was registered federally in 1913. In 1914, it expanded significantly by the inclusion of members from the defunct Victorian Coal Miners' Association.

In 1916 the Australasian Coal Miners' Association changed its name to the Australasian Coal & Shale Employees' Federation.

In 1990, it amalgamated with the Federated Mining Mechanics' Association of Australasia to form the United Mineworkers' Federation of Australia.

Smith describes the history of the union from that point as follows:

"Another amalgamation with the ATAIU [Australian Timber and Allied Industries Union] & BWIU [Building Workers Industrial Union] Amalgamated Union in 1992 and later that year with the Federated Engine Drivers' & Firemen's Association of Australasia and the Operative Plasterers' & Plaster Workers' Federation of Australia instigated the formation initially of the Construction Forestry & Mining Employees' Union and later the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union. This union was reregistered as the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union (CFMEU) in 1993 following amalgamations with the Federated Furnishing Trade Society of Australasia and the Operative Painters' & Decorators' Union of Australia."

In 2016, delegates from the Maritime Union of Australia voted to merge with the CFMEU, which was to later become the CFMMEU (Construction Forestry Mining Maritime & Energy Union.

Mining and enegy workers continued to be represented by the CFMMEU until 2023, when the Mining and Energy Union was registered as an independent organisation on 1 December. (Mining and Energy Union. https://meu.org.au/about-us/ accessed 2023-12-19)

Other source details:

Matthew Doran (2016) Maritime Union of Australia delegagtes vote in favour of merging with Construction, Forestry, Mining and Engineering Union", Australian Broadcating Corporation. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-29/maritime-union-votes-in-favour-merging-with-construction-union/7209264 accessed 2023-12-19).

Bruce Smith (2010) Australasian Coal & Shale Employees Federation (1916 - 1990). Australian Trade Union Archives. http://www.atua.org.au/biogs/ALE0103b.htm Accessed 2023-12-19

Resources

Pamphlets

• Rothbury: The 50th Anniversary, NSW Northern District of the Miners Federation, Newcastle, 1979. Image PDF Details