No Power Greater: A History of Union Action in Australia

by Liam Byrne

Unions are making a comeback. Labour disputes around the world have hit the headlines as unions take action to challenge inequality. But while media coverage has increased, understanding of unions has not. In this lively history of Australian unionism Liam Byrne seeks to illuminate what unionism means, exploring why successive generations of working people organised unions and nurtured them for future generations. Foregrounding the pioneering efforts of women workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers, culturally and linguistically diverse workers, and LGBTIQA+ workers as central to the union story today, Byrne uses case studies of worker action and struggle to better understand the lived reality of unionism, its challenges, and its contribution to Australian life. No Power Greater is the compelling story of the acts of rebellion and solidarity that have shaped Australia's past and shows that unions are far from history.

Genres: Nonfiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 14, 2028

Reviews

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent chronology of the blues that have shaped Australian workers, and the movement's stalwart defence of them. May the emotional community of unionism continue to prosper.

[Mark Cully · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than, for me at least, it transpired. The framing of union action around the "emotional community of unionism" was too forced in many instances, and its repetitive use throughout was jarring. The history properly elevates some union actions that have been missing from more general histories, but this comes at the cost of leaving out other important actions. And, while Byrne sets out at the start that the book was written independently of his day job at the ACTU, he is not an impartial observer. Yes, there is much to celebrate about what the union movement in Australia has helped to achieve, but there is a good deal of ugliness in its history that is hinted at, or ignored, in this account.

[Lee Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book offers vital context to any Australian, especially those of the working class, on what really is the foundation of our country. beyond that I believe there are some important learnings for international working people as well.

[Thomas Schembri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Makes me proud to be Australian.