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John Joseph (Jack) Arter (1904–1973)

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John Joseph (Jack) Arter (1904–1973) electroplater, union organiser 

Birth: 1904, Essendon, Melbourne, son of Michael Francis Arter, electroplater, and Ellen (Nellie), née O’Shea. Marriage: 23 May 1838 at St Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, South Melbourne, Eva Pleydell. They had one son. Death: 26 September 1973, Thornbury, Melbourne. 

Served 23 years with the Amalgamated Engineering Union, Victoria. First non-tradesman to be elected as organiser. ‘Always had a deep concern for the wages and conditions of semi-skilled workers in the industry’. Played major part in 1947 strike, and in warding off Industrial Groups’ attempts to take control of the union. Believed in amalgamation of all metal unions. 

Tribune, 6 Nov 1973, Age (Melb) 27 September 1973, p.24

Citation details

'Arter, John Joseph (Jack) (1904–1973)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/arter-john-joseph-jack-25590/text33904, accessed 11 May 2025.

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