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.

In 1925, representatives of the Federated Carters' and Drivers' Industrial Union, the Trolley Draymen and Carters' Union and the Motor Transport and Chauffeurs' Association met to plan the establishment of a new union to represent all persons employed in connection with the transport of people or goods by road. The Amalgamated Road Transport Workers' Union was federally registered in 1928 (though the Motor Transport and Chauffeurs' Association withdrew beforehand) and ten years later it changed its name to the Transport Workers' Union of Australia. In 1947 members of the deregistered Federated Carters' and Drivers' Industrial Union of Australia, which had continued in parallel, joined the union. By the end of 1987 the Transport Workers' Union had amalgamated with the Motor Transport and Chauffeurs' Association and retained the same name.

The Electrical Trades Union of Australia was first formed in 1919 with many of its founding members from the deregistered Federated Electrical Trades Union of Australia. In 1993 the union amalgamated with the Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees' Union of Australia and became the Electrical Electronic Plumbing and Allied Workers Union of Australia.

The Federated House and Ship Painters, Paperhangers and Decorators Employees' Association of Australasia became the Operative Painters and Decorators of Australasia in 1915. In 1918 it changed its name to the Operative Painters' and Decorators' Union of Australia. Seventy-five years later, the union amalgamated to form the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union in 1993.

Patrick Gerstenberg was a Transport Workers Union (TWU) representative on the New Parliament house delegates committee (1982- c. 1988).