Collection of 43 documents relating to the Australian Stevedoring Industry Authority
Date1950s-1978
Object numberANMS1370
NameArchive series
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Carol O'Connor
DescriptionThis collection consists of 43 documents were collected by Bernard James O'Connor during his period as the Director of the Australian Stevedoring Industry Authority (ASIA). Mr O'Connor was the Director of the Authority from 1970 until its closure in 1978. The papers relate to issues concerning the AEWL, National Stevedoring Conference and Association Employers of Waterside labour. This series consists of one set of speech notes; one speech transcript; one Hansard photocopy; one opinion document; one Productivity Index; two legal opinions; two legal Judgments; three newspaper clippings; two reports; five notes; two extracts from regulations and reports; six letters and 16 documents relating to stevedoring, the future of the ASIA and employee wages.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.