Actors' Equity Of Australia, Victorian Division

Description

Agent TypeOrganisationActivities & OccupationsTrade UnionsHistoryThe Actors’ Association was formally registered as Actors’ Federation of Australasia in 1919. This was followed by a lack of confidence amongst members, which forced the union to deregister. It re-registered again in 1920 under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act; although it did not become Actors’ Equity of Australia until 1936. However, the sense of ineffectiveness, and a lack of confidence continued to plague the union causing Hal Alexander and other trade union activists to take over the management of the organisation in 1939. The union was then associated with a militant leadership, and allegations in the late 1940s that the Federal and Victorian secretaryship was held by communists (1948-1949). Consequently the Association was asked to give evidence to the Royal Commission into the Communist Party of Australia (CPA). Historically, the principle aims of the union were to improve and enforce wages and conditions, and to lobby for support of local production in the entertainment industry. In 1945 members from the defunct Announcers’ Association of Australia joined the organisation resulting in the formation of Actors and Announcers’ Equity of Australia. Major re-structuring in the 1980s saw the establishment of a Federal Council, and the return of Equity to Actors’ Equity of Australia (1982). Then in 1992/3 Actors’ Equity amalgamated with the Australian Theatrical & Amusement Employees’ Association (ATAEA) and the Australian Journalists’ Association (AJA) to form Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA).

Selected reference: < http://www.atua.org.au/>

Dates

Date1936-1992

Names

AcronymAEOther NamesEquity

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Actors' Equity Of Australia, Victorian Division