Crikey is building two new lists exploring the links between unions and the ALP. The first one about current MPs from the unions currently numbers 125 and the second lists 32 unionists standing as current Labor candidates not in Parliament.

Dick Adams: the Federal member for Lyons was a meat worker who rose to be union organiser with the Australian Meat Industries Employees’ Union and the Liquor and Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union.

Michael Aird: Tassie upper house member and still checking which union.

Pam Allan: Wentworthville MP in NSW and former Minister who came from the NSW Teacher’s Federation.

Marie Andrews: Peats MP in NSW. Upon leaving school at 15, undertook business course (shorthand/typing) and later word processor. For 17 years, private Secretary to NSW Branch Secretary, Australian Railway Unions, now Public Transport Union.

Alan Ashton: MLA for East Hills in NSW Parliament and a member of the History Teacher’s Association and Teacher’s Federation. Not sure if ever worked full time for the union.

Jim Bacon: The Tasmanian premier was formerly Secretary of the Tasmanian Trades and Labor Council and a member of the ACTU Executive, as well as being a delegate to the ILO’s International Labor Conference. Prior to that, he was an official, then State Secretary, of the BLF. Not bad for a toffie former Scotch College boy out of Melbourne.

Ken Bacon: the member for Bass in the Tassie Parliament came out of the TWU.

John Bartlett: MLA for Port Stephens in NSW and President of the Port Stephens Teachers Association.

Tom Barton: Queensland State Development minister who came out of the AMWU and the Labor Council as state secretary.

Peter Batchelor: The Victorian Transport Minister did 10 years with the quaintly named Furnishing Union from 1973-83.

Peter Beattie: The Queensland Premier was the former State Secretary of the Queensland Railway Employees Union. He is a member of the MEAA.

Liz Beattie: Victorian member for Tullamarine and an ASU Organiser and Victorian Trades Hall Council Buildings Manager.

Brenton Best: the member for Braddon in Tassie also came out of the TWU.

Arch Bevis: the Federal member for Brisbane was a teacher who rose to become an organiser and then deputy general secretary of the Queensland Teachers’ Union 1980-90.

Senator Mark Bishop is a former State Secretary of the SDA in Western Australia and was also the WA state secretary of the National Union of Workers (NUW).

Peter Black: MLA for Murray-Darling in NSW Parliament. Ex-President and Secretary of the Barrier Teachers Association and Bush Hostels Association

Stephen Dominic Bredhauer: Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads was formerly a union organiser for the Queensland Teachers Union.

Clive Brown: WA minister for trade and state development and a former secretary of the LHMWU in WA. He was also state secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers’ Union from 1976 to 1978 and later president and then secretary of the Trades and Labor Council.

John Brumby: The Victorian Treasurer started out as a Teachers Union official and is a toffy Melbourne Grammar old boy.

Senator Geoff Buckland is a former SA State Secretary of the Federated Ironworkers’ Union but just before leaping into the ailing John Quirke’s still-warm seat he was the AWU’s Whyalla branch secretary.

Meredith Burgmann: President of the NSW Legislative Council. Life Member, National Tertiary Education Union and member of various Green groups.

Anna Burke: is in grave danger of losing Chisholm and has a heavy union background as an Industrial Officer at VicRoads and the Victorian Institute of Technology before becoming an industrial officer for the Finance Sector Union.

Jan Burnswoods: NSW upper House MP who came out of the Teacher’s Federation.

Anthony Byrne: Federal member for Holt and former SA Branch organiser for the SDA.

Senator George Campbell is a former National Secretary of the Australian Metal Workers Union who says that Crikey is his favourite website.

Christine Campbell: Victorian Family Services minister who was a branch organiser with the Shop Distributors (SDA).

Bob Carr: the NSW Premier was a journalist but he also did a stint at the NSW Labor Council.

Senator Kim Carr is a former School President of the Technical Teachers Union and twice failed in tilts to become an organiser. Is a general screaming lefty in the Senate from what Crikey hears on News Radio and maybe should not be on the list because he’s a failed wannabe union organiser who never really got beyond the house committee.

Elizabeth Clark: Queensland MLA for the seat of Clayfield (formerly held by Santo Santoro) was an Industrial Officer with the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance.

Ralph Clarke: South Australian MP who was with the ASU in the 80s and early 90s. He was once deputy SA opposition leader but is now an Independent Labour candidate after the party dumped him following a domestic violence controversy, after which he took ALP to court over branch-stacking.

Barry Collier: MLA for Miranda in NSW. Former President of the Legal Education Teachers’ Association of NSW.

Senator Jacinta Collins is a former SDA Industrial Officer in Victoria who says Crikey is her favourite website.

Pat Conlon: South Australian MP who was an LHMWU organiser in the late 1980’s and who once worked for Nick Bolkus and does have a drink driving conviction.

Stephen Conroy: Labor’s financial services spokesman was an organiser with the Transport Workers Union but his Who’s Who entry fails to mention this.

Senator Peter Cook Peter worked for the FCU in Adelaide and became the Secretary of the WA Trades and Labour Council, and vice-president of the ACTU. He was made a Minister in 1988 and a Cabinet Minister in 1990.

Michael Costa: NSW Upper House member who was formerly secretary of the NSW Labor Council.

Simon Crean: The member for Hotham and Labor’s Treasury spokesman who was ACTU President and rose up through the Storeman and Packers union.

Senator Trish Crossin was the NT Secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union. She has worked for the NTEU, the AEU and the ALHMWU.

Trevor Crothers: South Australian MP not renowned for hard work who is a life member of the Missos and is said to have had some association with the SA branch of the LHMWU.

Michael Danby: the federal Member for Melbourne Ports was an industrial Officer for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association 1994-96 and was also President of the Melbourne University Student Union.

Kaye Darveniza: Upper House Victorian MP was secretary of HACSU (HSUA Victorian No 2 Branch) for 10 years.

John Della Bosca: The man fixing WorkCover and Compulsory Third Party Insurance in the Carr government was an organiser for the Transport Officer’s Federation.

Ed Dermer: North Metropolitan representative in the WA Legislative Council who was a full-time union organiser before joining parliament (once again, will have to find out which union).

Kate Doust: South Metropolitan Region representative in the WA Legislative Council who was a junior vice-president of the Trades and Labor Council before winning a seat in parliament.

Joanne Duncan: Victorian MLA who was an organiser for the Victorian Independent Education Union.

Michael Egan: State Treasurer & Minister for State Development. Federal Research Officer AMIEU: 1969-73. Advisor Federal Minister for Housing and Construction: 1973-75. Officer State Pollution Control Commission: 1976-78. Senior Policy Advisor to Barry Unsworth: 1984-86.

Sue Ellery: another South Metropolitan Region representative in the WA Legislative Council, was an industrial officer in the Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union until being elected.

Gary Fenlon: Member for Greenslopes in the QLD Parliament and a former industrial advocate for the Nurses Union.

Laurie Ferguson: Currently Labor’s forestry spokesman and came up through the Miscellaneous Workers Union like his brother Martin.

Martin Ferguson: former ACTU President who rose up through the Miscellaneous Workers Union and is now Labor’s federal employment spokesman.

Senator Michael Forshaw is a former National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union.

Gail Gago: Former Australian Nursing Union state secretary in SA who is having go at the SA Upper House after two previous failed runs for federal seats Adelaide and Makin.

Graham Giffard: member of WA Upper house for the North Metropolitan Region and previously an industrial officer with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union before he entered politics.

Steve Gibbons: the member for Bendigo was a union officer for four years in the early 90s with the Liquor and Hospitality union.

Senator Brenda Gibbs worked for the Australian Meat Industry Employees Union and the Australian Journalists Association.

Mary Gillett: Victorian member for Werribee who came from the National Union of Workers.

Monica Gould: the Victorian IR Minister was with the Manufacturing Grocers Association, which became part of the National Union of Workers.

Larry Graham: Labor member for Pilbara since 1989 before being ousted in a factional battle by the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union. Was a full-time union official before entering politics and still holds the seat as an independent.

Alan Griffin: the member for Bruce was an organiser with the Federated Clerks Union and was instrumental in getting Lindsay Tanner elected as Assistant Secretary in 1987.

Brian Harridine: Tas Independent Senator and still President of SDA Tassie Branch.

Gabrielle Harrison: MLA for Parramatta and former Sports minister. Was chairperson of Macquarie University Students’ Council which is famed for being run by colourful lefties.

John Hatzistergos: MLC & Chairman of Committees. Member of Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association 1977 -1983, Australian Government Lawyers’ Association 1986 – 1989 and Australia Services Union 1993 to present. Still checking if was ever a full time unionist.

Kerry Hickey: MLA for Cessnock in NSW Parliament and former President of the Newcastle Milk Vendors Association from 1995 – 1997.

Senator John Hogg is a former QLD State Secretary of the SDA which are a close relative of the old NCC.

Senator Stephen Hutchins is a former TWU State Secretary and National President.

Morris Iemma: MLA for Lakemba in NSW Parliament and Minister for Public Works & Services. Formerly an Industrial Officer for the Commonwealth Bank Employees Union.

Gavin Jennings: Melbourne Upper house in Victoria and schooled by those rough nuts in the ETU and the Liquor Trades as well as the Public Transport Union.

Steph Key: South Australian MP who was with the TWU for much of the 1980s and 90s before scoring that nice Parliamentary sinecure with the beaut pension.

Tom Koutsantonis: South Australian MP who was with the SDA in the mid 90s.

Telmo Languiller: Member for Sunshine in Victorian Parliament and a former top dog at the Health Employees Federation after being an organiser in the late 80s early 90s for the Health Services Union of Australia.

Paul Lennon: the Deputy Premier of Tasmania was an organiser, then secretary and senior vice president of the Storeman and Packers Union (Tas Branch), after which he was the secretary of the Tasmanian Trades and Labor Council between (1984-1989) and a member of the ACTU Executive.

Michael Leighton: Member for Preston in Victorian Parliament and an ex HEF No2 and former HACSU (Health and Community Services Union) Assistant Secretary.

Veronica Lesley: Queensland MLA for the seat of Aspley elected in March 2001 who was formerly a Professional Officer at Queensland Nurses Union.

Kirsten Livermore: member for Capricornia was an organiser with the Commonwealth Public Service Union 1995 before becoming a solicitor and then entering Parliament.

Fran Logan: recently-elected Labor member for Cockburn in the WA Legislative Assembly, worked for the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union from 1986 until being elected to parliament.

Senator Joe Ludwig is a former Industrial Advocate with the Queensland branch of the Australian Workers Union under the all-powerful Bill Ludthug.

Senator Kate Lundy is the former President of the ACT Labor Council and worked as a builders labourer, then an organiser for the Building Workers Industrial Union (BWIU) (now CFMEU). Was VP for BWIU.

Senator Sue Mackay: formerly an organiser for the Liquor and Allied Trades Union in Tassie and an industrial officer for the Community and Public Sector Union.

Jann McFarlane: Federal Labor Member for Stirling who was a founding member of what was then the Australian Social Welfare Union (now the ASU).

Justin Madden: Victoria’s Sports Minister was formerly in charge of the AFL Players Association.

Norm Marlborough: member for Peel in the Legislative Assembly, was a full-time union official before entering parliament (don’t know which one).

Ian Maxfield: Labor member in the Victorian seat of Narracan is formerly from the SDA.

Jim McGinty: Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs in WA who is also the key numbers man in the Gallop government. Jim was secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers’ Union from 1978 to 1990. He was an industrial officer with the Hospital Employees’ Union from 1972 to 1978 and a former Trades and Labor Council advocate in the Industrial Relations Commission.

Sheila McHale: WA’s Minister for Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors, Youth, Disability Services, Culture and the Arts. She worked for the State School Teachers Union of WA before entering politics.

Bob McMullan: Member for Fraser (ACT) who has spent a life time as a party official, union official and MP and is now a key frontbencher.

Frank Mossfield: Member for Greenway who did the full union career path before finally joining the big retirement house on the hill. After 15 years as a fitter and turner, Frank started as an official at the Australasian Society of Engineers before becoming branch secretary of the Australian Society of Engineers and then federal president. From here he became an executive member of the ACTU and then President of the NSW Labor Council.

Reba Meagher: Cabramatta MP in the NSW Parliament and a former TWU official.

Senator Shayne Murphy (who was a member of the ALP until early October, when he got fed up with the Regional Forests Agreement) had been the State Secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (formerly Australian Timber Workers’ Union, thus explaining, as it does with half the Tasmanian ALP, his forest policy).

Mick Murray: member for Collie in the WA Legislative Assembly, is president of the Collie Combined Coalmining Unions’ Council.

Sang Nguyen: Melbourne West Upper House MP in Victoria and formerly an ethnic organiser with the National Union of Workers before he became mayor of Richmond.

Gordon Richard Nuttall: Queensland Minister for Industrial Relations was formerly a State Organiser for the Queensland Branch of the Electrical Trades Union.

Senator Kerry O’Brien (ALP Senate whip) was a research officer for the Federated Miscellaneous Workers’ Union (1974-82), the Tasmanian Branch Secretary of the same mob (1983-1992), the Tasmanian Branch Secretary of the Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union (1992-1996), the Vice-President of the Miscellaneous Workers’ Division, Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union 1991-96 and, during most of the foregoing period, a Federal Executive Member, Federal Councillor, Federated Miscellaneous Workers’ Union/Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union (1983-96).

Michelle O’Byrne: Federal member for the marginal Tasmanian seat of Bass and a former organiser for the Miscellaneous Workers Union.

Neil O’Keefe: the retiring member for Burke started out as teacher before becoming a union official and after 17 years in the Parliament he’s off with a wonderful indexed pension for life.

John Pandazopoulos: Gaming and Major Project minister in Victoria. Was an organiser with the Insurance Employees Union which became part of the Finance Sector Union. Before that he was a manager at a McDonalds store, where he actively promoted membership of the Liquor Trades Union.

Bronwyn Pike: Victorian Minister who came out of the Teachers Unions before working with the Uniting Church and was also once National Industrial Officer with the Finance Sector Union (FSU).

Robert Lindsay Poole: Queensland MLA for the seat of Gaven (elected in March 2001) was formerly a Organiser and Workplace Health and Safety Officer for Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union.

Patrick Douglas Purcell: Queensland MLA for Bulimba was formerly Secretary of the Australian Building Construction Employees’ and Builders Labourers’ Federation (Qld Branch) and Vice President Federal Australian Building Construction Employees, and Builders Labourers’ Federation.

Jaye Radisich: The second youngest parliamentarian in WA history who was a delegate to, and executive member of, the National Union of Students and vice-president (Asia-Pacific) of the International Union of Socialist Youth before winning the Legislative Assembly seat of Swan Hills earlier this year.

Eric Riper: the WA Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Energy was a teacher by profession but served four years as a full-time official with the State School Teachers Union.

Bernie Ripoll: The 35 year French-born sparkie got on the fast train to become Member for Oxley by becoming an organiser with the State Public Services Federation of Queensland in the mid 1990s.

Neil Stuart Roberts: Queensland MLA for Nudgee was formerly an Industrial Advocate for Electrical Trades Union.

Terry Roberts: South Australian MP who grew up in the rough and tumble of the CFMEU in the 1970s and 80s.

Neil Roberts: MP in Queensland Parliament and formerly an industrial officer with the ETU.

Stephen Robertson: Queensland Minister for Mines and Energy and a former State secretary for the United Fire Fighters Union.

Nicola Roxon: the federal member for Gellibrand has a law degree and was a Judge’s associate but also did the ubiquitous two-year stint in the mid 1990s as an organiser at the National Union of Workers.

Robert Schwarten: Member for Rockhampton in the QLD Parliament and a former Queensland Teachers Union organiser

Bob Sercombe: the uninspiring member for Maribyrnong hails originally from a union and the Victorian Parliament. Has agreed to go at the next election to make way for Prime Ministerial hopeful Bill Shorten, the MBA from the AWU who is married to Julian Beale’s daughter.

Senator Nick Sherry was the State Secretary of Federated Liquor and Allied Industries Union in Tasmania between 1979-90 and a National Councillor of the Union between 1981-90.

Robert Smith: the upper house Victorian member for Chelsea was with the Australian Workers Union

Bob Sneath: MLC in SA and a former AWU state secretary who this year sat on the big red bench vacated by long-serving MLC and former AWU warhorse George Weatherill.

Lindsay Tanner: Crikey’s local member in Melbourne has all the pedigree with law and arts degrees but still went off and spent 6 years as assistant secretary and secretary of the Federated Clerks’ Union in Victoria.

Ian Trezise: Victorian MLA and former AWU official.

Joe Tripodi: Fairfield MP in the NSW Parliament and was a former TWU official.

Ian West: NSW Upper House and think he came from the CFMEU.

Geoff Wilson: Member for Ferny Grove in the QLD Parliament and a former CFMEU official.

Michael Wright: South Australian MP who was with the AWU from the late 80s until the mid 90s.

Kim Yeadon: NSW Energy Minister who came out of Miscellaneous Workers Union and Electrical Trades union as an organiser and research officer.

32 LABOR CANDIDATES WHO HAVE UNION BACKGROUNDS

Catryna Bilyk: Tasmanian Senate Candidate. Currently the Industrial and Training Officer for the Tas Branch of the Australian Services Union. Also Senior Vice President of the Tas Trades and Labour Council.

Michael Bjork-Billings: Labor’s candidate in Corangamite has a history with the National Tertiary Education Union.

David Bradbury: Labor’s 25-year-old candidate in Jacqui Kelly’s seat of Lindsay has packed a lot into his short career including a stint as an industrial officer for the Australian Services Union

Paul Caica: whilst not a candidate for the Federal election, this United Firefighters Union official and Bolkus Left member Paul will contest the marginal Liberal seat of Colton at the state election.

Liam Costello: candidate in Pearce who was president of the Edith Cowan University student guild in Perth.

Trish Fowler: Labor’s sacrificial lamb in the blue ribbon WA seat of Curtin works within the Australian Nursing Federation.

Cheryl Dorron: the candidate in the very marginal seat of Hinkley and is an official with the Queensland Nurses union.

Roslyn Dundas: Shock, horror!!! ACT Democrat Senate candidate is currently an organiser with the ACT Branch of the CPSU. Isn’t it time this good unionist did a Cheryl.

Wayne Finch: the Federal candidate for Peter Reith’s old seat of Flinders is naturally from the MUA.

Trish Fowler: Candidate for Curtin in WA and President of the Australian Nursing Federation.

Jenny George is the former ACTU Secretary who has scored herself the very safe Labor seat of Throsby in the Illawarra.

Sharryn Jackson: candidate for Hasluck in WA. Soon after finishing university she started work as the women’s officer at the Trades and Labor Council. For the past 15 years, Sharryn has been an industrial officer and for the last 10 years, as an assistant secretary with the Miscellaneous Workers Union WA (LHMU).

Andrew MacleodL the candidate in McEwen is a steward with the Liquor & Hospitality Union.

Gavin Marshall: Victorian Senate Candidate who is an Assistant State Secretary with the Electrical Trades Union.

Jenny McAllister: Labor’s candidate in Richmond, the most marginal Liberal seat, is an organiser with the Community and Public Sector Union in their North Coast office.

John McShane: Candidate for Mitchell and a union official with the LHMWU since 1977.

Clair Moore: Queensland Senate candidate who spent 17 years with the QLD Branch of the Commonwealth Public Sector Union (CPSU). Elected secretary in 1993. Elected VP of Queensland ACTU in 1994.

Richard Morrow: the ALP candidate for Wannon (south west Victoria, held by Liberal David Hawker by 7.4 per cent) has a strong affiliation with the region’s Trades and Labour crew although strictly speaking he’s a compo lawyer with Portland firm Stringer Clark.

James Murphy: Labor candidate for Boothby in SA and currently employed with the rapidly declining Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.

Ted Murphy: Victorian senate candidate and a Victorian State Secretary of the NTEU, he is currently national Assistant Secretary of the union.

Brendan O’Connor, who will replace Neil O’Keefe in his safe Victorian seat, was an organiser with the MEU, then became Assistant National Secretary of the ASU.

Conleth O’Neill: Candidate for Grey who worked for the Public Sector Association as a research officer for five years while studying law.

Mark Pendlebury: the candidate for O’Connor is a member of the Australian Services Union and has been a member of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the former Civil Service Association. Still checking if ever actually worked for any of these unions.

Tresslyn Smith: Labor’s candidate for the Forrest and currently regional manager for the Ministry of Fair Trading. She has been a member of the Community and Public Sector Union since 1969 representing regional staff in a range of negotiations.

Russell Tremlin: Candidate for Wide Bay who was elected to the FEDFA (what’s that?) and is now with the Come F*** Me Union (CFMEU).

Frances Teirney: Candidate for North Sydney. She is deputy NSW president of the Australian Services Union, and has been president of the social and community services sector of the union for the past decade.

Penny Wong: Number 1 SA Senate candidate so sure to get elected. Former elected Organiser and Industrial Officer with the CFMEU. She is currently the legal officer with the ALHMWU in South Australia and has been at the bar as a barrister.

Joanna Woods: NSW Senate Candidate. Former NSW ETU industrial research officer and currently on maternity leave from employment as Communications Officer for the ALP (NSW Branch).

Kim Young: standing for seat of Moore in WA. Kim is currently the Assistant Secretary of the CFMEU WA branch. Kevin Reynolds may be his boss, but Kim is definitely one of the good guys.