Collection of 18 documents relating to the Australian Stevedoring Industry Authority
Date1950s-1978
Object numberANMS1366
NameArchive series
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Carol O'Connor
DescriptionThis collection consists of 18 documents collected by 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 Australian Stevedoring Industry Authority (ASIA) restructuring, levies, Idle time funding and other employment matters. This series consists of one document relating to the progressive withdrawal of the Government from ASIA; four memorandums relating to idle time funding and restructuring; one paper on nationalisation of the industry; six letters relating to redundancies, restructuring and ports; two summaries; and four notes on the stevedoring industry, maritime container industry and employers.HistoryThe 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. 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.
Bernard James O'Connor had been Chief Legal Officer and Industrial Officer with the Stevedoring Industry Board, forerunner of the Authority, since 1954. He then 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, including control of hiring labour, while 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 Industry Authority.SignificanceThis collection chronicles Bernard O'Connor's tenure as Solicitor and then Director of the Australian Stevedoring Industry Authority through a period of massive change on the Australian waterfront.