This is a list of trade unions in Australia. Trade unions can be registered with the federally-based Fair Work Commission or with an equivalent state-based industrial relations regulatory body. Registration allows a trade union to formally represent members in industrial disputes.
The peak body for unions in Australia is the Australian Council of Trade Unions. Each state and territory of Australia also has an organisation representing trade unions, known as trades and labour councils. Membership of either peak body is not compulsory.
Current registered trade unions
A federally registered trade union is an employee association that has a minimum of 50 employee members and complies with the criteria set out in Section 19 of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 and related regulation.
The following is a list of Australian trade unions that are formally registered with the Fair Work Commission, as of 23 April 2026:
+ Union Sub-Branches Headquarters Industries Founded Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union AMIEU Adelaide Meat industry 1906 Australian and International Pilots Association AIPA None Sydney Commercial aviation 1981 Australian Directors Guild Limited ADGL None Sydney Film and television 1982 Australian Education Union AEU Melbourne Education 1984 Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Employees AFULE None Brisbane Rail transport 1921 Australian Federation of Air Pilots AFAP None Melbourne Commercial aviation 1938 Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers AIMPE Sydney Maritime transport 1906 Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association ALAEA None Sydney Aircraft engineering 1964 Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union AMWU Sydney Manufacturing et al. 1852 Australian Maritime Officers Union AMOU None Sydney Maritime transport 1889 Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation ANMF Melbourne Nursing and midwifery 1922 Australian Principals Federation APF None Melbourne Education 2006 Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union ARTBIU Sydney Public transport 1861 Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation ASMOF Sydney Medical practitioners 1991 Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union ASU Melbourne Clerical and administrative et al. 1911 Australian Workers' Union AWU Sydney Various 1886 Breweries and Bottleyards Employees' Industrial Union of Workers of Western Australia BEU None Perth Breweries 2010 Civil Air Operations Officers' Association of Australia CAOOAA None Melbourne Air traffic control 1948 Club Managers' Association Australia CMAA None Sydney Club management 1964 Communications Electrical and Plumbing Union CEPU Sydney Plumbing and Electrical trades et al. 1919 Community and Public Sector Union CPSU Sydney Public service et al. 1913 Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union CFMEU Sydney Construction et al. 1962 Salaried Staff United CSRHSA None Brisbane Employees of CSR, Holcim, Wilmar & Viridian 1942 Finance Sector Union of Australia FSU None Melbourne Financial services 1919 Flight Attendants' Association of Australia FAAA None Sydney Commercial flight attendants 1956 Health Services Union HSU Melbourne Health professionals 1911 Independent Education Union of Australia IEUA Canberra Non-government education 1988 Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance MEAA Sydney Performing Arts, Media, Journalism et al. 1992 Mining and Energy Union MEU Sydney Mining 1915 Musicians' Union of Australia MUA Adelaide Music industry 1911 National Tertiary Education Union NTEU Melbourne Tertiary education 1986 Police Federation of Australia PFA Canberra Law enforcement 1942 Professionals Australia APESMA Melbourne Science and Technology et al. 1917 Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association SDAUA Melbourne Retail, Warehousing et al. 1908 Transport Workers Union of Australia TWU Sydney Private transportation et al. 1928 Union of Christmas Island Workers UCIW None Christmas Island Christmas Island workers 1995 United Firefighters' Union of Australia UFUA Melbourne Fire and emergency services 1974 United Workers Union UWU None Melbourne Various 2019 Local Government, Racing and Cemeteries Employees Union LGRCEU None Perth Local government in Western Australia 2002
Other trade unions Timber, Furnishing & Textile Union The Development and Environmental Professionals' Association Health Workers Union Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association The Police Association Victoria Ambulance Employees Association of South Australia Queensland Professional Firefighters Union Fire Brigade Employees Union WA Grain Handling Salaried Officers Association Western Australian Prison Officers Union of Workers Retail and Fast Food Workers Union
Professional athlete associations Professional Footballers Australia Australian Cricketers' Association Rugby League Players Association AFL Players Association Australian Netball Players' Association Rugby Union Players' Association Australian Swimmers' Association Australian Basketball Players' Association Australian Athletes' Alliance
Former trade unions