The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) was established in 1995 after the Automotive Food Metals and Engineering Union amalgamated with the Printing and Kindred Industries Union to become the Automotive Food Metals Engineering Printing and Kindred Industries Union, better known as the AMWU.

The Amalgamated Metal Workers Union originally formed in 1973 from the amalgamation of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, the Sheet Metal Working, Agricultural Implement and Stovemaking Industrial Union of Australia, the Boilermakers' and Blacksmiths' Society of Australia, and the Federated Jewellers. In 1976 the union amalgamated with the Federated Shipwrights' & Ship Constructors' Association of Australia to become the Amalgamated Metal Workers & Shipwrights Union. In 1983 it joined the Federated Moulders (Metals) Union of Australia to become the Amalgamated Metals Foundry and Shipwrights' Union. It reverted to the name Amalgamated Metal Workers' Union in 1985 and operated until 1991 when it amalgamated with the Association of Draughting Supervisory & Technical Employees to become the Metals & Engineering Workers' Union.

The Confectionery Workers and Food Preservers Union of Australia was formed in 1992 through an amalgamation of the Confectionery Workers' Union of Australia and the Food Preservers' Union of Australia. In 1994 the CW&FPU amalgamated with the Automotive Metals and Engineering Union to form the Automotive Food Metals and Engineering Union.

Metals & Engineering Workers' Union was formed from the amalgamation of the Amalgamated Metal Workers' Union and the Association of Draughting Supervisory & Technical Employees in 1991. It operated until 1993 when it was amalgamated with the Vehicle Builders Employees' Federation of Australia to become part of the Automotive Metals & Engineering Union.

The Union formed in 1994 when the Automotive Metals & Engineering Union and the Confectionery Workers' & Food Preservers' Union of Australia amalgamated. In 1995 it merged with the Printing & Kindred Industries Union to form the Automotive Food Metals Engineering Printing & Kindred Industries Union, otherwise known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.

The Food Preservers' Union of Australia has a history dating back to around 1898 with a union of jam, sauce and pickle works employees and was registered federally in 1911 as the Jam Sauce Pickle and Food Preserving Employees' Union of Australia. Its name was changed in 1916 to the Amalgamated Food Preserving Employees' Union of Australia and in 1929 the union registered itself as the Food Preservers' Union of Australia. In 1992, the union amalgamated with the Confectionery Workers' Union to become the Food Preservers' Division of the Confectionery Workers' and Food Preservers Union of Australia.

The Printing Industry Employees' Union of Australia, known as the One Big Union of Printers in 1916, was registered federally in 1917. On 31 March 1966 the Printing Industry Employees' Union of Australia and the Amalgamated Printing Trades Employees' Union of Australia signed an agreement to amalgamate to form the Printing and Kindred Industries Union.

The Printing & Kindred Industries Union was formed on 6 July 1966 after the amalgamation of the Printing Industry Employees' Union of Australia and the Amalgamated Printing Trades Employees' Union of Australia. In 1986 the PKIU amalgamated with the Federated Photo Engravers Photo-Lithographers & Photogravure Employees' Association of Australia, and in 1992 with the Victorian Printers Operatives' Union. It was re-registered and retained its name until 1995 when the PKIU amalgamated with the Automotive Food Metals and Engineering Union to form the Automotive Food Metals Engineering Printing & Kindred Industries Union, otherwise known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union.

The union was formed in December 1920 under the name of Amalgamated Printing Trade Employees Union of New South Wales by an amalgamation of the Australian Bookbinders' and Paper Rulers' Federated Association, New South Wales Lithographic Association, Letterpress Printers' Machinists' Industrial Union of Employees of NSW, and the Process Engravers' Union of NSW. In the late 1940s it amalgamated with the Victorian Lithographic Printers' Employees' Union to form the Amalgamated Printing Trade Employees' Union of Australia. The union amalgamated with the Printing Industry Employees Union of Australia in 1966 to form the Printing and Kindred Industries Union of Australia.

The Federated Confectioners' Association of Australia was registered with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in 1925. The NSW Branch of the Federated Confectioners’ Association of Australia was represented by the New South Wales Journeymen Confectioners’ Union. In 1945 the membership expanded to include members of the Female Confectioners' Union (1916). It changed its name to the Confectionery Workers’ Union of Australia in 1986 and in 1992 merged with the Food Preservers Union of Australia to form the Confectionery Workers and Food Preservers Union of Australia.

The Vehicle Builders Employees Federation of Australia, originally known as the Coach-Makers' Society, was registered in 1917 as the Australian Coach Motor Car Tram Car Waggon Builders Wheelwrights and Rolling Stock Makers Employees' Federation. In 1930 it was registered again as the Australian Coach Motor Car Tram Car Waggon Builders Wheelwrights & Air Craft Rolling Stock Makers Employees' Federation and in 1938 became known as the Vehicle Builders Employees' Federation. The Union operated until 1993 when it amalgamated with the Metals and Engineering Workers' Union to form the Automotive Metals and Engineering Union.

The Metal Trades Federation of Unions was formed at a conference held on 14-16 June 1943 with seven unions affiliated to it including the Amalgamated Engineering Union, Australasian Society of Engineers, Blacksmiths Society of Australia, Boilermakers Society of Australia, Federated Ironworkers Association of Australia, Federated Moulders (Metals) Union of Australia, Sheet Metal Working Industrial Union of Australia. In 1943 the Federated Agricultural Implement & Stovemakers, Porcelain Enamellers & Iron Workers Association of Australia affiliated and in 1944 the Federated Engine Drivers & Firemens Association of Australasia affiliated. In 1965 the Blacksmiths Society and Boilermakers Society amalgamated to form the Boilermakers & Blacksmiths Society of Australia. In 1966 the Australasian Society of Engineers disaffiliated. In 1972 the Amalgamated Engineering Union, Boilermakers & Blacksmiths Society and the Sheet Metal Working, Agricultural Implement & Stovemaking Industrial Union amalgamated to form the Amalgamated Metal Workers Union.