Don McDonald interviewed by Richard Raxworthy in the Labor Council of New South Wales oral history project [sound recording]

Mr McDonald, Assistant National Secretary, Building Workers' Industrial Union of Australia, speaks of his early life in Sydney; his carpentry apprenticeship; becoming a delegate; the campaign for daylight technical training; Catholic Youth Organisation; roles of the Church and unions; travels through China and the Soviet Union; joining the Communist Party; Eureka Youth League; writing bulletins: Doing Time, Early Birds; his education; election as organiser for the BWIU; working conditions in the North Shore area; arguments with non-unionists; safety on the Waringah Mall; Occupational Health and Safety Act of NSW; underpayments in Moree; persecution of unionists; safety standards for overhand work; membership drives; builders' labourers' green bans; the Rocks; Labor Council and green bans; right and left factions in the Labor Council; John MacBean and representation of issues; Michael Easson; workers' compensation insurance; de-registration of the BLF; campaign to enlist BLF members to the BWIU; workers' rights campaign; demonstration against the Telegraph; Jack Taylor articles; Roger Gyles Royal Commission; attempt to de-register the MBA; broader community role of union; Cyclone Tracy; Nyngan Floods.