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Bernard James O'Connor collection

Date1970 - 1978

Object numberANMS0028

NameArchive series

MediumPaper

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Bernard James O'Connor

Terms

DescriptionThis collection consists of papers from Bernard James O'Connor during his period as the Director of the Australian Stevedoring Industry Authority. Mr O'Connor was the Director of the Authority from 1970 until its closure in 1978. The papers relate to industrial relations on the waterfront, legislation, operations at ports in Australia and New Zealand, and international labour conferences. The date range of the collection ranges from 1928 to 1978.HistoryThis series contains 100 items. These consist of 7 legal Acts; 1 set of section 37 appeals; 5 journal and newspaper articles; 2 industry awards; 2 legal Bills; 3 books; 3 booklets; 1 set of comments on a report issued by the Australian Overseas Transport Association; 1 Constitution of the International Labour Organisation; 5 documents relating to the stevedoring industry; 1 folder issued by the Fremantle Port Authority; 1 F G Strang Pty Ltd handbook; 1 Information pack on the Australian Stevedoring Industry Authority; 1 Stevedoring Industry Inquiry; 1 set of Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission Judgments; 7 letters; 1 memorandum; 2 newsletters; 1 newspaper clipping; 3 pamphlets; 1 photograph; 1 new employment proposal; 1 temporary provision regulations; 1 set of conciliation and arbitration regulations; 29 reports; 1 review of Australian Law and Practice; 1 set of Statutory Rules; 2 statements; 9 submissions; 1 thesis on "The Turn - Round of Shipping in the Port of Sydney"; 2 transcripts of evidence in an investigation and judicial proceedings; 1 Century of a Union document. The Australian Stevedoring Industry Authority was set up in 1956 as a body corporate to regulate the performance of stevedoring operations. It comprised a chairman, an employer representative and a trade union representative. In 1970 the Authority was reconstituted with the addition of a Director. Bernard James O'Connor had been Chief Legal Officer and Industrial Officer with the Stevedoring Industry Board, the forerunner of the Authority, since 1954. He became Solicitor to the Authority, and was appointed Director in 1970 when that position was established. He remained Director until the Authority was wound up in 1978. During this period the Australian waterfront industry underwent vast changes. In the 1950s and 1960s the Waterside Workers' Federation won many victories through industrial action, ensuring wharf labourers' awards and conditions were greatly increased and improved. In the 1970s with changing trade and the introduction of containerisation, the industry and its operations were reformed under the powers of the Australian Stevedoring Industry Authority. In 1978, after considerable reform of waterfront organisation, the Authority was terminated. Most of its functions went to the Association of Employers of Waterside Labour. Its assets and liabilities went to the Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee.SignificanceThis collection chronicles Bernard O'Connor's tenure as Director of the Australian Stevedoring Industry Authority through a period of massive change on the Australian waterfront.