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Established in 1851, the original Amalgamated Engineering Union was merely a branch of the British union. Registered for the first time in 1905, under the new Commonwealth industrial relations laws, this union became known as the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. In 1921 the union changed its name to the Amalgamated Engineering Union, Australian Section to more accurately reflect its association with the British Amalgamated Engineering Union. Although this newly named union was deregistered in February 1938, another union, the Amalgamated Engineering Union (Australian Section), was formed later that year to take its place. This union remained the Australian division of the British Amalgamated Engineering Union until 1969 when it became autonomous, shortening its name to the Amalgamated Engineering Union [AEU] to reflect this. In mid-June 1972 the AEU began a series of amalgamations with the Sheet Metal Workers, Blacksmiths & Boilermakers and Federated Jewellers so that by 1973 the Amalgamated Metal Workers' Union had been formed. Further amalgamations in 1976 with the Federated Shipwrights' and the Federated Moulders' (Metals) Union in 1983 changed the focus and the name of the union but by 1985 it had become known once again as the Amalgamated Metal Workers' Union. A 1991 amalgamation with the Association of Draughting Supervisory & Technical Employees created the Metals & Engineering Workers' Union. Two years later a further amalgamation with the Vehicle Builders Employees' Federation of Australia resulted in the Automotive Metals & Engineering Union. Finally in 1994 this union merged with the Confectionery Workers' & Food Preservers’ Union to form the Automotive Food Metals & Engineering Union.
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