West Australian Locomotive Engine Drivers' Firemen's and Cleaners' Union of Workers explained

West Australian Locomotive Engine Drivers' Firemen's and Cleaners' Union of Workers was a Western Australian railway union that existed for the twentieth century, and into the twenty first, before amalgamation with other transport unions. The union became known later as the Locomotive Engine Drivers’ Firemen’s and Cleaners’ Union of Western Australia

A number officials of the union went on to further involvement in Western Australian and Australian politics.[1] [2]

The publication of their awards, rules and classifications was in effect the identification of railway workers who were able to work as employees of the Western Australian Government Railways.[3]

The main occupations covered by their industrial awards included:

Steam engine drivers

Firemen

Engine packers and trimmers

Washout men and their assistants

Cleaners

with separation into classes that were measured in most cases by length of service.

In the 1950s lists included trainee drivers.

Strikes and arbitration cases

Throughout the twentieth century, train strikes and arbitration cases occurred in relation to wages and conditions.[4]

Notes and References

  1. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20140824225900/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/146709/20140825-0859/adb.anu.edu.au/biography/kenneally-james-joseph-6927.html
  2. News: THE RAILWAY SERVICE. . . XV . 737 . Western Australia . 10 February 1900 . 8 September 2018 . 19 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: W.A. GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS . . 18 . 5,007 . Western Australia . 25 March 1902 . 8 September 2018 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: INDUSTRIAL. . . XLIV . 8,186 . Western Australia . 11 September 1928 . 8 September 2018 . 14 . National Library of Australia.