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

Mr McDonald, the National Secretary of the Building Workers' Industrial Union of Australia, speaks of his early life; the influence of the Depression; early strike experiences; influence of communism; miners' strike; joining the Communist Party; Pat Clancy; legal strikes; exemptions for hospitals; his appearance in arbitration court to defend the union; impressions of Labor Council Secretaries; demise of the "right pub"; deregistration of the BWIU; affiliation of the ASC&J; relationships between the Labor Party, Communist Party and the Labor Council; industrial groups; peace movement; moratoriums; Paul Robeson's visit; safety standards; sit-in in the NSW Parliament; Jack Ferguson and public works; long service leave; campaign for increased wages and accident pay; interference from the Builders' Labourers; campaign for superannuation; green bans; deregistration of the BLF; creation of the CFMEU; penal clauses; improvements to conditions; secondary boycotts; Troubleshooters; Building Industry Royal Commission; tax summit.