The Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Employees is a Queensland-based craft union that represents employees in the train running grade.  The A.F.U.L.E. is the world’s oldest continuous railway union, having represented Traincrew in Australia for more than 145 years.

The A.F.U.L.E. is one of the few remaining stand-alone craft unions in Australia.  Craft unions have membership that is based on a particular skill or trade.  By contrast, an industry union is one that covers all workers employed in a particular industry or industries.  Craft unions are traditionally protective of their skill or craft, and restrict membership to workers engaged in that craft.

The A.F.U.L.E.’s traditional membership is persons eligible to be employed in the train running industry -– Locomotive Drivers, Drivers’ Assistants, Firemen, Locomotive Cleaners and Guards – and workers engaged in and about the working or management of motive power used on a Railway.  In recent times, this has expanded to include new and emerging roles within the train running grade including Tutor Drivers, Train Management Improvement Officers, Drivers-in-Charge, Driver Coordinators, Operations Coordinators, Driver Trainers and Technical Trainers.

Our primary industrial aims are to improve and protect wages and conditions in the train running grade and to ensure safe and healthy workplaces for all Traincrew.

Our strength is the collective will exercised by the working men and women in our grade who have chosen to band together to improve their working conditions.  The men and women of the A.F.U.L.E. believe that dignity at work, health, safety, fair pay and conditions and the protection and furtherance of these is worth fighting for.

The A.F.U.L.E. exists to provide these working men and women with the skills and resources to achieve these industrial aims.  We provide training, advice, legal representation and information to assist our members and delegates to further these aims.