People Australia

Albert Edward Phillips (1880-1963) coalminer, trade union official and alderman 

Birth: 1880 at Risca, Monmouthshire, Wales, United Kingdom, son of William Phillips, miner, and Florence Elizabeth, née Puddicombe. Marriages: (1) 1904 at Monmouthshire, to Mabel Williams. They had one son. (2) 3 December 1917 at Brisbane, Queensland, to Queensland-born Deborah Morgan (1892-1970). They had two daughters and two sons. Death: 7 March 1963 in the General Hospital, Ipswich, Religion: Congregationalist. 

• Father died when Albert was aged 11. Began work in Abercarn mine, South Wales, in the 1890s aged 12 as a 'trapper boy'. Joined South Wales Miners' Federation.
• At 18 he joined the Independent Labour Party; claimed to have been prominent in the British co-operative movement.
• Arrived in Australia in 1909. Worked as coalminer on West Moreton coalfields, Queensland. Joined Queensland Colliery Employees' Union (QCEU) when working at Aberdare Colliery and became chairman of lodge. Supported tramway strike for right to form a union in 1912, in which they were unsuccessful.
• Secretary Aberdare lodge. Became auditor for union. Elected to QCEU’s committee of management in 1912.
• Supported federation of mining unions and became federal councillor from 1916 to 1935 or 1940 (resigned); district treasurer 1913-1915; Queensland district representative on Central Council of Australasian Coal & Shale Employees' Federation 1915.
• Assistant secretary QCEU April 1915, then succeeded D. Gledson as secretary QCEU in same year, retaining position until retirement in 1943. During this period won an eight-hour day and substantial increase in pay. Member, Queensland Local Tribunal in 1918 and assisted with the building of the award system and formalising methods for settling disputes.
• In 1922 represented Queensland coalminers on Queensland State provisional council of projected Australasian Workers' Union. Assessor on New Ebb Vale mine explosion inquiry 1945.
• Joined Australian Labor Party and was chairman of Silkstone-Booval branch for forty-five years. Became active in union and represented Queensland district on Party's State executive, Chairman Ipswich ALP executive for 25 years. Deputy Chairman QCE 1939 to 1957.
• Commissioned Justice of the Peace at Silkstone in August 1916. Alderman Ipswich Council for six years from 1949 to 1955.
• Cause of death: myocardial infarction (minutes), atheromatous heart disease (months), bilateral pneumonia, urinary tract infection (weeks).

Sources
Edgar Ross, A history of the Miners' Federation of Australia ([Sydney] 1970; Pete Thomas, The coalminers of Queensland: a narrative history of the Queensland Colliery Employees Union. Volume 1 Creating the traditions (Ipswich, 1986); Common Cause, 8 May 1943 p.3, 9 March 1963 pp 6-7.