Editing Simon Crean (section)

==Trade unionist==
Following his graduation from Monash University, Crean worked in several roles with various trade unions, before becoming an official within the [[Storeman and Packers Union]] (SPU). In 1977, aged 28, he stood for ALP [[preselection]] to succeed his father in the seat of [[Division of Melbourne Ports|Melbourne Ports]], widely considered a safe Labor seat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110872330|title=Holding surprises Crean|date=17 October 1977|newspaper=The Canberra Times}}</ref> He was defeated for preselection by former ALP state leader [[Clyde Holding]], with Holding winning the ballot by 36 votes to 34.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110876610|title=St George win for Tony Whitlam|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=7 November 1977}}</ref>

In 1979, Crean was elected General Secretary of the SPU, which entitled him to a seat on the board of the [[Australian Council of Trade Unions]] (ACTU). He was elected ACTU vice-president in 1981, before in 1985 winning election as ACTU president.<ref name=Trade /> In this position, he played a key role in negotiating numerous agreements on wages and other industrial issues as part of the [[Prices and Incomes Accord]] with the [[Hawke government|Government]] of [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] [[Bob Hawke]], himself a former ACTU president.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Prices and Incomes Accord: Its significance, impact and legacy |first=Chris F. |last=Wright |journal=Journal of Industrial Relations |issn=0022-1856 |date=April 2014 |volume=56 |issue=2 |pages=264–272 |doi=10.1177/0022185613517476 |s2cid=154743029 }}</ref>

As ACTU president, Crean served on the board of [[Qantas]] from 1987 to 1990 and on the board of the [[Australian Industry Development Corporation]] from 1988 to 1990.<ref name=aph/>