Deposit Z442 - Actors' Equity of Australia deposit 3

Identity area

Reference code

AU NBAC Z442

Title

Actors' Equity of Australia deposit 3

Date(s)

  • 1982 - 1991 (Creation)

Level of description

Deposit

Extent and medium

2.7 m

Context area

Name of creator

(1936-1993)

Biographical history

The Actors’ Federation of Australasia was formed in 1919 and changed its name to Actors' Equity of Australia on 25 February 1936. The union, however, was ineffective and had close links with its supposed adversaries, the Theatre Proprietors and Managers' Association of Australasia. In 1939 Management of Equity was taken over by Hal Alexander and other trade union activists.
On 5 May 1945 the union's name was changed once more, this time to Actors and Announcers' Equity of Australia and was largely due to the inclusion of members from the recently defunct Announcers' Association of Australia. A closed shop ruling was announced in 1949, with members prohibited from working with non-members. Taking the often-casual nature of a performer's employment into account, members were only required to be financial when in work.
Almost since its inception the union was based and most active in Sydney. In 1980 Equity underwent major structural changes with NSW ceasing to be 'The Council State.' A Federal Council was set up in order to be more representative of Equity members around Australia, together with a NSW Division similar to the other state Divisional Committees and Executives. On 14 July 1982 the union assumed its previous title, Actors' Equity of Australia. An unsuccessful attempt was made in 1983 to establish a breakaway union.
In 1993 the Actors Equity of Australia amalgamated with the Australian Theatrical & Amusement Employees' Association and the Australian Journalists' Association to form the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Files relating to imports of actors, theatre productions, and television advertisements. Also papers relating to various disputes including Australian Opera Part-Time dispute, SBS Television presenters case and the Travel Allowance Dispute.

Accruals

System of arrangement

Now part of N420

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Researchers must sign an access agreement

Conditions governing reproduction

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Box list

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Note

Z442 will be added to Z759 and then come under that reference.

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Dates of creation revision deletion

Entered from deposit description on 6 November 2012

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