Australian Workers’ Union Media Release
The Australian Workers’ Union congratulates Bill Shorten on his remarkable 30 years of service to the Australian labour movement.
Bill started his career at the AWU Victorian branch in 1994 where four years later in 1998 he was elected to the position of Victorian State Secretary.
In 2001 Bill became the National Secretary of the AWU six years before being elected as the Member for Maribyrnong in 2007.
AWU National Secretary Paul Farrow said Mr Shorten left an indelible legacy.
“Bill’s work in turning around the fortunes of our union during his six years as National Secretary are legendary. Doing so required not just extraordinary vision and strategic nous, but also an incredible work ethic, which he carried into into his parliamentary career,” Mr Farrow said.
“Bill led the union defining moments, including the collapse of Ansett and the Beaconsfield mine disaster. His leadership during these crises showed his relentless drive to support workers and ensure their rights were defended. He was always there – whether standing with families who had lost loved ones or advocating for thousands of members who found themselves out of work overnight.
“Bill’s hands-on approach and dedication made him incredibly popular among AWU members, who respected his work ethic and admired his tireless efforts on their behalf. He will always have the gratitude of our union.”
AWU Victoria Secretary Ronnie Hayden said his branch would never forget the singular contribution of Mr Shorten.
“Such was Bill’s appetite for work and responsibility that when he took on the incredibly challenging role of National Secretary he maintained his role as Victorian branch secretary, and did both jobs tremendously well,” Mr Hayden said.
“From the day he walked into out branch, Bill established a reputation as a tough, ethical, and pragmatic union leader who worked hard to achieve the best deal possible on behalf of our members.
“Our branch was tremendously proud when Bill took his AWU values into parliament. No matter the time period, or the role, Bill never lost sight of who he was there to serve: everyday working Australians. His mission was always to help build a fairer, more inclusive Australia. He leaves as a lion of the Australian labour movement.”
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