A new history of the union movement in Australia says marginalised groups like migrants, women, Indigenous Australia and LGBTIQA+ people were often left to run their own grass roots campaigns, and were only embraced by the broader union movement once their campaigns had gained momentum. But the approach of unions reflected the broader attitudes of the Australia of the day.  

• GUEST: Dr Liam Byrne, author of ‘No Power Greater - A History of Union Action in Australia’  published by Melbourne University Press.