The Australian Boot Trade Employees' Federation was registered federally in 1908 following the earlier registration of the Adelaide, New South Wales, Queensland and Victorian state-based unions. The Union existed independently until the 1980s when imports began to affect the footwear and clothing industries. In 1987 it amalgamated with the Australian Textile Workers' Union to become the Amalgamated Footwear and Textile Workers' Union of Australia, and in 1992, a further amalgamation with the Federated Clothing and Allied Trades Union created the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia.

Operative Bootmakers Union of South Australia was formed in 1882 and subsequently participated in the conference to establish a federal body. This was achieved in 1907-1908, when the Operative Bootmakers Union of South Australia became the South Australian Branch of the Federation