The Electrical Trades Union of Australia (ETU) is a trade union in Australia which has a history stretching back over 100 years. In its modern form the ETU is a division of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU), although it is possibly the most well known of the three divisions. At a state registered level, the union often exists as a separately registered union as for example it does in Queensland.
On 24 December 1919 Electrical Trades Union of Australia federally re-registered under the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1904 as an association of employees. This date is now taken as the official registration date of the Federal Union.
Whilst being a part of the CEPU the union has carved out for itself a unique identity. It is well known for its militant attitude. Its members have long memories and openly berated Peter Beattie for giving former Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen a state funeral. The Bjekle-Petersen government had sacked ETU members working at SEQEB in 1985 during a bitter dispute over the privatization of work normally done by SEQEB employees. Like other trade unions of the left in Australia it has adopted the Eureka Flag as one of its logos.
From 2004 onwards the ETU has been struggling internally with the Communications division of the CEPU. Perceived deficiencies in the Communications Division of the CEPU have meant that the Electrical Division (ETU) has attempted to recruit Telstra employees into its division.
In the lead-up to the 2010 Federal election the Victorian ETU withdrew its support for the Labor party, citing Labor's refusal to scrap laws restricting union action on building sites.
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