Reference to the index of J H O'Neil (1888-1971), trade unionist

Abstract

John Henry(Jack)O'Neil(1888-1971) was known as the King of the Tasmanian Trades Union movement. He was secretary of the Hobart Trades Hall Council 1927-1968(except for a break due to ill health 1958-62)and was a foundation member and Vice-President of the A.C.T.U. He first joined the Carters and Drivers'Union at 18 in 1907 and he was a member of its Wages Board in 1911. He was State Secretary of several unions,namely: Carters and Drivers 1916 -1942, Storemen and Packers 1917-1951, Electricity 1917 -1953, Gas Employees 1918 -1951, Federated Confectioners 1944 -1968 and also of the Meat Industries and the Miscellaneous Workers unions and he was secretary to the 8 Hour Day Committee from 1921. He was an Associate Commissioner of the Hydro-Electric Commission 1954 -1970 and was a Justice of the Peace. Jack O'Neil was born in Hobart on 30 August 1888 and attended Thomas Mitchell's St. Mary's Boys School,where he was a member of the 12 boy squad which did exhibitions of military drilling using Enfield muzzle loading carbine rifles (see Mercury 24.7.64).