Labor Council of New South Wales

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The Labor Council of New South Wales is a representative body of Trade union organisations in the State of New South Wales, Australia. As of 2005 there are 67 unions and 8 Rural and Regional Trades & Labor Councils affiliated to the Labor Council, representing 800,000 workers in NSW. It is registered as the State Peak Council of Employees under Section 215 of the Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW).

The Labor Council was formed by six Unions in 1871, and originally called the Trades & Labor Council of Sydney. In 1894 it changed its name to the Sydney District of Australasian Labour Federation. In 1900 it again changed name to the Sydney Labor Council, changing again eight years later to the Labor Council of New South Wales.

In 2005 it adopted the name Unions New South Wales for all public purposes, but retained the official name Labor Council of New South Wales.

[edit] Responsibilities

The Labor Council of New South Wales is responsible for:

implementing Australian Council of Trade Unions policy within New South Wales.
co-ordinating union activities and campaigns, involving more than one union.
providing assistance with research, negotiations and advocacy to affiliated organisations.
lobbying State Parliament for social and industrial reforms.
providing a public point of contact for general enquiries on New South Wales unions.
Ownership of the Sydney Trades Hall was transferred to the Labor Council in 2002, from the original trustees: the Trades Hall Association.