IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0101 TU.XA
Held at: Institute of Commonwealth Studies
Title: Christmas Island (Indian Ocean): Trades Unions Material
Date(s): 1976-1977
Level of description: Collection (Fonds)
Extent: 1 box
Name of creator(s): Institute of Commonwealth Studies
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
Christmas Island came under British rule in 1888 following the discovery of phosphate, and was administered as part of the Colony of Singapore until 1958, when it was first made a seperate colony and then transferred to Australian sovereignty. Throughout this period and thereafter phosphate mining dominated the island, and the Union Of Christmas Island Workers was created in 1975 to protect the interests of those working in the industry. The materials here document the birth of the union as well as its grievances with the Australian government, most notably with regard to wage policies which the UCIW saw as discriminating against non-European workers.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Constitutions, press release and directory issued by the Union of Christmas Island Workers, 1976-1977.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Alphabetically by union, and then in rough chronological order.
Conditions governing access:
Open to all for research purposes; access is free for anyone in higher education.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copies can usually be obtained - apply to library staff.
Physical characteristics:
Finding aids:
Records at item level on library catalogue (SASCAT)
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Accruals:
No further accruals are expected
Archival history:
The Commonwealth Political Parties Materials collection was begun in 1960-61, with special emphasis being placed then, as now, on "primary material such as party constitutions, policy statements, convention reports and election manifestos." (ICS, Twelfth Annual Report 1960-1961). Since then, the main method of gathering material has been to appeal directly to political parties throughout the Commonwealth, though contributions from Institute members and staff following visits to relevant countries have been significant.
Immediate source of acquisition:
Institute of Commonwealth Studies
ALLIED MATERIALS
Related material:
See also Political Party, Trades Unions and Pressure Group Materials for other Commonwealth countries and related material in the library's main classified sequence, all held at the ICS.
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Archivist's note: Description compiled by Daniel Millum, Political Archives Project Officer at the Institutes of Commonwealth and Latin American Studies.
Date(s) of descriptions: Created 03/03/2004 AIM25