About Us

A proud and rich history

The Australian Maritime Officers Union (AMOU) has proudly represented thousands of professional merchant marine officers since 1880. The AMOU was formed when the Merchant Service Guild and the Australian Stevedoring Supervisors Association amalgamated in 1993.

The Merchant Service Guild of Australia (an association of Masters, Deck Officers, Marine Pilots, Tug Masters and Port Services Vessel Masters & Engineers) was the first Federal trade union registered when the Conciliation and Arbitration Act was made law by Federal Parliament in 1904. The first case decided under Federal employment law was the Merchant Service Guild of Australasia v Commonwealth Steamship Owners Association in 1905.

With a proud history extending back to early Australian shipping, the AMOU represents and progresses the lives of all professional, administrative, supervisory and technical employees in the maritime and stevedoring industries including Port and Marine Authorities.

The AMOU has been proudly serving Maritime Officers for nearly 130 years.

• 1889: Mercantile Marine Officers Association of Australasia was formed and operated from New South Wales.
• February 1904: The General Meeting of the Mercantile Marine Officers Association of Australasia voted to adopt the name Merchant Service Guild of Australasia.
• 15 May 1905: The Merchant Service Guild of Australasia became the first trade union to be registered under the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904.
• The first case decided under Federal employment law was the Merchant Service Guild of Australasia v Commonwealth Steamship Owners Association in 1905. [1CAR1]
• September 1952: The Merchant Service Guild of Australasia becomes known as the Merchant Service Guild of Australia.
• 1981: The Australian Stevedoring Supervisors Association is registered.
• 1992: The Merchant Service Guild of Australia and the Australian Stevedoring Supervisors Association merge to form the Australian Maritime Officers Union.

If you’d like to know more regarding the AMOU’s history please see the Australian Trade Union Archives.

Getting the best deal for members

The AMOU is registered under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009, meaning we can bargain on behalf of our members to improve their wages, conditions, safety and advance the profession as a whole. We’re a federally registered union and promote our members and the industry’s best interests to both Federal and State legal jurisdictions.

Rules to protect you

The AMOU is a member-based organisation and we work hard to make sure your funds are managed carefully and effectively in your interest.

As a Registered Organisation the AMOU is bound by a set of rules to determine how it represents members, operates and conducts itself in accordance with the law.

Members also have some responsibilities and obligations under these rules.

In addition to matters noted in our annual return, financial statements and rules, the AMOU has a number of policies, procedures and structures to ensure that your membership dues are accounted for in an open and transparent manner.

If you would like more information regarding our rules they are registered with the Fair Work Commission.