The Printing and Kindred Industries Union (PKIU) was an Australian trade union which existed between 1966 and 1995. It represented production workers in the printing industry, including compositing, typesetting, letterpress printing, lithographic plate-making, electrotyping, stereotyping and bookbinding, and the manufacture of paper and cardboard products, such as paper bags, envelopes, cardboard boxes and cartons. Approximately half of all members were qualified tradespeople, with the remainder semi-skilled or unskilled workers.[2]
As in many other printing trade unions, the union members in each workplace were known as the 'Chapel', and the senior union delegate as the 'Father of the Chapel', while other elected officials were referred to as 'brothers'.[3]
History
Members of the Victorian Printers Operative Union, circa 1900
The PKIU was formed on 6 July 1966 through the amalgamation of the Printing Industries Employees Union of Australia (PIEU) and the Australian Printing Trades Employees' Union (APTEU).[2] At its formation the PKIU represented 50,000 members, out of a total of 53,000 unionists in the Australian printing industry, making it the sixth largest union in Australia and the eighth largest printing union in the English-speaking world.[4]: 300 Membership of the union increased to a peak of 60,000 in 1970. After this, membership entered a gradual decline as technological change in the printing industry reduced the number of jobs, with membership falling back to 50,000 by the end of the decade.[1][2] In 1976 the union held an eight-and-a-half-week strike against John Fairfax and Sons over the introduction of computerised typesetting equipment.[1]
By the 1970s the union had established 100 percent membership in the newspaper section of the industry, and approximately 75 percent membership in the paper products sections.[1]
In 1986 the PKIU absorbed the Federated Photo Engravers, Photo-Lithographers and Photogravure Employees' Association of Australia, which had been active since 1910 as a small union of skilled workers in South Australian and Victorian newspaper offices. First registered federally in 1942 as the Federated Process Engravers, Photo-Lithographers and Photogravure Employees' Association of Australia, it changed its name to the Federated Photo Engravers, Photo-Lithographers and Photogravure Employees' Association of Australia in 1952. In 1992 the PKIU also absorbed the Victorian Printers Operatives' Union (VPOU). The VPOU had been registered in 1987, but existed well before this date as the Printing Trades General Workers' Union.
By 1992 membership had declined to 43,000 and three years later the PKIU amalgamated with the Automotive, Food, Metals and Engineering Union to become the printing division of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.[5]
^ abcdeHuntley, Pat (1980). Inside Australia's Top 100 Unions. Middle Cove, NSW: Ian Huntley (Aust.). pp. 212–215. ISBN0-9598507-4-0.
^ abcdMarjoribanks, Timothy (2000). News Corporation, Technology and the Workplace: Global Strategies, Local Change. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
^Evans, David Sidney (2014). Not an Ordinary Life. Coogee Creations. ISBN978-1634618717.
^Hagan, James (1966). Printers and Politics: a History of the Australian Printing Unions, 1850-1950. Canberra: Australian National University Press. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
^Bruce A. Smith. "Australian Trade Union Archives". Trade Union Entry:Printing and Kindred Industries Union. Australian Trade Union Archives. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
August 19, 2023
printing, kindred, industries, union, pkiu, australian, trade, union, which, existed, between, 1966, 1995, represented, production, workers, printing, industry, including, compositing, typesetting, letterpress, printing, lithographic, plate, making, electrotyp. The Printing and Kindred Industries Union PKIU was an Australian trade union which existed between 1966 and 1995 It represented production workers in the printing industry including compositing typesetting letterpress printing lithographic plate making electrotyping stereotyping and bookbinding and the manufacture of paper and cardboard products such as paper bags envelopes cardboard boxes and cartons Approximately half of all members were qualified tradespeople with the remainder semi skilled or unskilled workers 2 PKIUPrinting and Kindred Industries UnionMerged intoAustralian Manufacturing Workers UnionFounded6 July 1966 57 years ago 1966 07 06 DissolvedJanuary 1995 28 years ago 1995 01 Headquarters377 Sussex St Sydney 1 LocationAustraliaMembers60 000 1970 2 PublicationPrinting Trades JournalAffiliationsALP ACTU International Chemical Federation 1 As in many other printing trade unions the union members in each workplace were known as the Chapel and the senior union delegate as the Father of the Chapel while other elected officials were referred to as brothers 3 History Edit Members of the Victorian Printers Operative Union circa 1900The PKIU was formed on 6 July 1966 through the amalgamation of the Printing Industries Employees Union of Australia PIEU and the Australian Printing Trades Employees Union APTEU 2 At its formation the PKIU represented 50 000 members out of a total of 53 000 unionists in the Australian printing industry making it the sixth largest union in Australia and the eighth largest printing union in the English speaking world 4 300 Membership of the union increased to a peak of 60 000 in 1970 After this membership entered a gradual decline as technological change in the printing industry reduced the number of jobs with membership falling back to 50 000 by the end of the decade 1 2 In 1976 the union held an eight and a half week strike against John Fairfax and Sons over the introduction of computerised typesetting equipment 1 By the 1970s the union had established 100 percent membership in the newspaper section of the industry and approximately 75 percent membership in the paper products sections 1 In 1986 the PKIU absorbed the Federated Photo Engravers Photo Lithographers and Photogravure Employees Association of Australia which had been active since 1910 as a small union of skilled workers in South Australian and Victorian newspaper offices First registered federally in 1942 as the Federated Process Engravers Photo Lithographers and Photogravure Employees Association of Australia it changed its name to the Federated Photo Engravers Photo Lithographers and Photogravure Employees Association of Australia in 1952 In 1992 the PKIU also absorbed the Victorian Printers Operatives Union VPOU The VPOU had been registered in 1987 but existed well before this date as the Printing Trades General Workers Union By 1992 membership had declined to 43 000 and three years later the PKIU amalgamated with the Automotive Food Metals and Engineering Union to become the printing division of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union 5 Organized Labour portalReferences Edit a b c d e Huntley Pat 1980 Inside Australia s Top 100 Unions Middle Cove NSW Ian Huntley Aust pp 212 215 ISBN 0 9598507 4 0 a b c d Marjoribanks Timothy 2000 News Corporation Technology and the Workplace Global Strategies Local Change Cambridge University Press Retrieved 1 June 2014 Evans David Sidney 2014 Not an Ordinary Life Coogee Creations ISBN 978 1634618717 Hagan James 1966 Printers and Politics a History of the Australian Printing Unions 1850 1950 Canberra Australian National University Press Retrieved 14 August 2020 Bruce A Smith Australian Trade Union Archives Trade Union Entry Printing and Kindred Industries Union Australian Trade Union Archives Retrieved 1 June 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Printing and Kindred Industries Union amp oldid 1104967782, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
