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John (Jack) Patterson (?–?)

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John (Jack) Patterson (?-?) coalminer and trade union official

Birth: details unknown. Death: details unknown. 

  • Worked as a coalminer on the northern NSW coalfields.
  • An official of Colliery Employees' Federation (CEF) . Supported amalgamation of the three NSW district mining unions in 1907, addressing many meetings on Southern coalfields.
  • Elected founding president of the Australasian Coal and Shale Workers' Association (C&SWA) in 1909. During 1909-1910 coal strike opposed Peter Bowling's scheme for union members to work two mines outside Vend to fund strike pay.
  • At time of arrest of Bowling and other leaders, December 1909, accepted government appointment as workers' representative on newly-established Wages Board. Supported W. M. Hughes' opposition to strike. Used casting vote on C&SWA central council in favour of Northern District accepting Wages Board and returning to work.
  • Subsequently expelled from CEF and in August 1910 forced to resign Wages Board position and C&SWA presidency. Also charged with having been swayed by receiving Labor endorsement for seat of Nepean.

Sources
Edgar Ross, A history of the Miners' Federation of Australia ([Sydney]1970).

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Citation details

'Patterson, John (Jack) (?–?)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/patterson-john-jack-34564/text43452, accessed 13 June 2025.

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