Serial S997 - Worker and Labour News (also The Australian Worker and Labor News)

The Australian Workers' Union, registered federally in 1905, initially sought to serve unskilled rural workers such as shearers and general labourers and eventually grew to be politically influential within the Australian Labor Party. Increasing in size as members from deregistered unions such as the South Australian United Laborers' Union and the Australian Carriers' Union were absorbed into the fold, the AWU postured itself as the 'One Big Union' of Australian trade unionism. In 1976 the union was reregistered following an amalgamation with the Wool and Basil Workers' Federation of Australia. The Union was again reregistered in 1988 when it merged with the Undertakers' Assistants and Cemetery Employees' Union. A final amalgamation in 1993 with Federation of Industrial Manufacturing and Engineering Employees brought about the AWU-FIME Amalgamated Union but it continues to be known as the Australian Workers' Union.

The Federation of Industrial Manufacturing and Engineering Employees was formed in 1991 as an amalgamation of the Australasian Society of Engineers and the Federated Ironworkers' Association of Australia. In September 1992 the Australian Glass Workers' Union also amalgamated and in November 1992 the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners of Australia, the Australian Rope and Cordage Workers' Union and the Australian Brushmakers' Union. In 1993 the union then amalgamated with the Australian Workers' Union with the official title the AWU-FIME Amalgamated Union, commonly referred to as the Australian Workers' Union.