Summary

Ribbon issued by the Amalgamated Carpenters & Joiners to celebrate the Eight Hour Day.

The Australian District of Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners was first registered in 1911. By the end of 1922 the title of the union had been amended to become the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters & Joiners of Australia. Some carpenters had felt that the relationship between their Australian union and the British Amalgamated Society of Carpenter and Joiners (ASCJ) was too strong, and established an independent Australian union, the Progressive Society of Carpenters and Joiners in the 1870s. This division in the Australian carpenters union was not healed until the 1920 when the Australian ASCJ broke off links with the parent union in Britain. In 1945 is name was changed to the Building Workers' Industrial Union of Australia but was deregistered in 1948. The ASCJ name was revived in 1950 but a rival group of anti-Communist members.

Action taken by stonemasons on 21 April 1856 led to the establishment of the Eight Hour Day, with the government agreeing that workers employed on public works should enjoy an eight hour day with no loss of pay. It was a world first and became emblematic of the rights of labour. In recognition of the significance of this achievement, April 21 was made a public holiday in 1879 and commemorative marches were held each year from 1879 until 1951. The Eight Hour Day holiday was renamed Labour Day in 1934. In 1955 the Labour Day march and celebrations were replaced by Moomba celebrations.

Physical Description

Royal blue ribbon with gold printing and fringe. "888" at top; Amalgamated Society of Australasia; crest; Carpenters and Joiners. Two imitation gold pins on a burgandy ribbon at the top.

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