Summary

Badge made by A.J. Parkes in Brisbane Australia, for the Printing Industry Employees Union of Australia. Collected as part of a group of badges over a fifteen year period during which Andrew Reeves undertook extensive research in the field of Trade Union Material Culture, and had extensive contact with the Trade Union movement Australia wide.

The Printing Industry Employees' Union of Australia was registered federally in 1917, although printing industry unions had a long nineteenth century lineage. In 1966 the Printing Industry Employees' Union of Australia changed its name to the Printing & Kindred Industries Union. In 1986 the Printing & Kindred Industries Union amalgamated with the Federated Photo Engravers, and in 1992 with the Victorian Printers Operatives' Union and although it was impelled to reregister each time, it remained in name the Printing & Kindred Industries Union [PKIU]. In 1995 the PKIU amalgamated with the Automotive Food Metals and Engineering Union to form the Automotive Food Metals Engineering Printing & Kindred Industries Union, otherwise known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union.

Physical Description

Circular gold metal and enamel button with crown and tail, it has a pin soldered on to the reverse. Thin gold metal border, blue enamel band, top third separated by two incised gold bars, raised gold lettering in enamel. Top third offset to create a step down around perimeter. At the centre there is a map of Australia, gold border, white enamel. gold figure in the centre of enamel. Surrounding the map is a gold stippled area. Manufacturers name in raised letters on the reverse.

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