Dr Jude Elton: Comrades or competition? Aboriginal workers and unions

Jude Elton explores the very different approaches taken by trade unions in the South Australian and Northern Territory pastoral industries to the union membership, workforce participation and wages of Aboriginal workers. The Australian Workers Union included Aboriginal workers as members and in award claims, while the North Australian Workers Union excluded most Aboriginal workers and actively supported discrimination in employment. Clues to their differences are found in the contrasting workforce characteristics and profitability of the wool and cattle sectors of the industry; geographical location; competition between workers for jobs; and legislation specific to Aboriginal peoples. Trade union leadership and politics also play a part. Jude’s talk will conclude with a reflection on current trade union responses to the Temporary Work (Skilled) 457 Visa Program given her findings in relation to Aboriginal workers. Jude Elton is a curator with History SA and President of the Association for the Study of Labour History (SA Branch). She was awarded a PhD in 2007 for her thesis on factors affecting union relations with Aboriginal workers in the South Australian and Northern Territory pastoral industries. As a professional historian Jude has worked on Native Title claims and undertaken research for a film an Aboriginal war veterans. Work at the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia has included teaching in Labour Studies and gender analyses of industrial legislation. Jude has also been an elected Assistant Secretary of the United Trades & Labor Council (now SA Unions) and Director of the Working Women’s Centre.