History
1956
Exile section of CNT-B (Bulgaria) established in Sydney. ‘Our Road’ organ
of CNT-B-in –exile section in Australia, commences publication.
1965
Exile section of CNT (Spain) established in Melbourne
1966
CNT-B comrades establish the Anarchist Cellar in Glenmore Rd., Paddington,
NSW. Cruz Negra Anarquista (Anarchist Black Cross) established in
Melbourne, commences publication of ‘Acacia’.
1968
CNT-B Secretariat moves from Paris to Sydney.
1973
‘Acracia’ commences biligual publication in Spanish and English.
1975
January – Federation of Australian Anarchists (FAA) established at
conference in Sydney.
‘Acracia’ reverts to publishing in Spanish only.
1976
February – Sydney IWW group forms.
June – FAA disbands at conference in Melbourne.
1977
Bookshop opened at 417 King St. Newtown, NSW under the name ‘Sydney
Anarcho-Syndicalists’.
1978
Melbourne IWW group forms.
1979
‘Sydney Anarcho-Syndicalists’ bookshop changes name to ‘Jura Bookshop’
Members of Sydney IWW and hold meetings to discuss the establishment of an
IWA section in Australia.
1981
Members of Sydney IWW publish ‘Communique No.1’ under the name
‘Anarcho-Syndicalist Committee’ declaring an intention to establish an
Australian section of the IWA.
1982
February – ‘Rebel Worker’ commences publication as the paper of the IWW
under the auspices of the Australia and New Zealand General Organising
Committee of the IWW.
Split in Jura Bookshop leads to the establishment of Black Rose Books in
Botany, NSW.
Melbourne IWW disbands.
1983
February – Sydney IWW disbands and reforms as Rebel Worker Group (RWG) and
makes an application to affiliate with the IWA. Rebel Worker continues to
publish as ‘An Anarcho-Syndicalist Paper’.
April – Former members of CNT and Melbourne IWW form Melbourne
Anarcho-Syndicalist Group (MASG).
RWG rejects overtures by MASG to enter into discussions in regard to
forming a federation.
1984
Application by RWG to affiliate as the Australian section of the IWA
rejected at 17th IWA Congress held in Madrid.
1985
RWG calls for a conference of anarcho-syndicalists to be held in Sydney
the following January.
1986
January – Anarcho-syndicalist conference agrees to found the
Anarcho-Syndicalist Federation on a provisional basis with an affiliate in
Sydney and an affiliate in Melbourne.
February – RWG changes its name to ASF Sydney. CNT-B-in-exile formally
disbands remaining members join ASF Sydney. First meeting of ASF Melbourne
held in North Fitzroy on the 15th. Rebel Worker continues to publish as
‘the Paper of the ASF’. ASF makes application to affiliate with the IWA as
the Australian section.
March – ASF Melbourne establishes industrial action support project to
support workers in struggle.
April – ASF Melbourne twins with Builders Labourers Federation picket line
at Banana Alley/Queen St.
May – ASF Melbourne commences publication of ‘Sparks’, an
anarcho-syndicalist public transport workers paper.
July – ASF Melbourne holds ‘50th Annivesary of Spanish Revolution
Celebrations’ in Fitzroy. Rebel Worker goes monthly.
October – BLF dispute ends in defeat. ASF Melbourne establishes Patient
Strike Support Group to support striking nurses.
November – ASF Melbourne sponsors Public Transport Workers Association as a provisional affiliate.
December – Nurses srtike ends in victory.
1987
January – ASF confirmed at 1st Congress of the ASF. Public Transport
Workers Association (PTWA) admitted to ASF. ‘Sparks’ continues as paper of
the PTWA-ASF.
June – Rail Guards dispute PTWA and ASF-M engage in support action.
1988
January – ASF-M publishes ‘White Australia has a Black History’ as part of
ASF Anti-Bicentenary Campaign.
April – ASF admitted to IWA as the Australian section of the IWA at the 18th IWA Congress held in Bordeaux, France.
June – 2nd ASF Congress held in Melbourne. ASF Melbourne South admitted.
September – Solidarity actions by IWA sections across the world in support of the struggles of aboriginal people in Australia. Spanish translation of
‘White Australia has a Black History’ published in serial form by CNT
paper ‘Cenit’. Japanese translation ‘White Australia has a Black History’
published by RRU, Japanese section of IWA.
(History section incomplete and under contruction)