Public Service Association of New South Wales

The first attempt to form a Public Service Association of New South Wales (PSA) was made in April 1886 by Arthur Josling and P.H. Somerville. Their actions may have been prompted by similar moves in Victoria and by growing concerns of political patronage within the service. The Provisional Committee set up to establish the organisation stated that the Association would not have a political character nor would it be a trade union. Thirteen years passed before the union was established in 1899.

The Association's first Chairman was Mr. Cornelius Delohery with Mr. W.A. Thomson elected Secretary. In November 1890 Mr. John Osbourne was appointed as the first permanent Secretary and the first Council was elected to conduct the business of the PSA. In October of the same year, the first country branch was formed at Moree. Others quickly followed in Armidale, Goulburn, Hay, Newcastle, Forbes and Orange.

In 1915, it was decided by a vote of 670 to 538 to register as a trade union under the Industrial Arbitration and Trade Union Acts. The proposal fired spirited debate but, nevertheless, registered as a Trade Union under the Trade Union Act and an Industrial Union under the Industrial Arbitration Act. Four internal divisions were established - Clerical, General, Professional and Education. By 1920, a vocational structure was emerging - the division and representation of members by the jobs they did - and the PSA's first awards were lodged.

In 1922, new legislation again excluded the PSA from the arbitration system. In an attempt to correct this situation the PSA waged a major political campaign between 1925 and 1930 to regain access to the system. The Lang Labor Government eventually amended the legislation. Four sections then emerged - Clerical, General, Professional and Government Agencies - plus a Women's Auxiliary.

Description added 21 Apr 2020

Australian Trade Union Archives website, http://www.atua.org.au/biogs/ALE1231b.htm (accessed 21 Apr 2020)