The Australian Women's Register

Summary

Aged fifteen, Eileen Powell joined the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and remained a member for over 45 years. She trained at the Party speakers’ classes in Balmain and became Assistant Secretary of the Stanmore Branch in 1929. After working for Grace Brothers (Broadway) Powell commenced work with the Labor Daily. From 1937 until 1944 she worked with the Australian Railways Union, New South Wales Branch. During this period Powell became an organiser for the Railway Refreshment Rooms (RRR) staff and achieved an Industrial Relations award for them. The mostly women workers were not employed directly by the Railways Department, were not covered by other awards and were dispersed throughout railway towns in New South Wales. On their behalf she appeared before the full bench of the NSW Industrial Commission and when the judgement was handed down there was a cut in the spread of hours, provisions for overtime, increased wages and the abolition of the compulsory board and lodging payments. Powell was also a member of the Council of Action for Equal Pay, the ALP Women’s Central Organising Committee and the United Associations of Women.

Events

• 1935

  Gave evidence at the Female Wage Case in the Industrial Commission

• 1969

  Gave evidence at the National Wage Case which adopted the principle of equal pay for equal work

• 1948

  Married Sydney Morning Herald journalist Fred Coleman-Browne

• 1951

  Gained Australian Labor Party preselection in the State seat of North Sydney

• 1928 - 1975

  Joined the Australian Labor Party. Member for 47 years.

• 1929

  Assistant secretary of the Stanmore Branch of the Australian Labor Party

• 1937 - 1944

  Organizer with the Australian Railway Union – New South Wales Branch

• 2038

  Appeared for the Australian Railway Union – New South Wales Branch before the full bench of the NSW Industrial Commission

• 1937 - 1948

  Member of the Council of Action for Equal Pay

• 1977

  Awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal