Labour Traditions: Proceedings of the 10th National Labour History Conference

Since 1988, the various branches of the Society have organised biennial conferences of great interest to both academics and non-academics, focusing on a variety of themes and issues of concern to the labour movement and wider society. This year, it was the turn of the Melbourne Branch of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History. It was the second time that the branch has hosted the national conference. The branch was founded in the early 1960s by political and industrial activists, with support from academics. That combination has sustained labour history in Melbourne for over 40 years, encouraging projects that are both historically analytical and actively engaged in the movement’s continuing work for ordinary people. The 10th National Conference, held at the University of Melbourne on 4-6 July 2007 continued that tradition. Centred around the broad theme of Labour Traditions, the conference offered papers, talks and forum discussions on a range of topics involving presentations from leading scholars, reflective activists and those who are still making our collective history, as they speak. John Faulkner, Robert Ray, John Cain and Wally Curran spoke at a forum on how the labour movement has conducted its internal debates over issues large and small. Terry Irving organised a session on Popular Movements for Democracy in Early Australia. Verity Burgmann assembled some very engaging speakers to commemorate the centenary of the founding of the IWW in Australia. Phillip Deery organised an impressive array of people to talk and argue about the Cold War. The blend of scholarly research and direct engagement in a field is reflected in the presentations on workplace health and safety by Yossi Berger, Ray Markey, Greg Patmore and Bill Shorten