John MacBean

John William MacBean, born on 11 July 1935 in Newcastle, New South Wales, was a prominent Australian trade union leader. His father, Jack MacBean, worked at the Broadmeadow locomotive workshops and held positions in the Australian Railways Union. John left school at 15 to work as an electrical fitter for the Newcastle Electricity Supply Council.

MacBean's career began with the Electrical Trades Union, where he became an organiser in 1964. He was also involved in local politics, serving as a Newcastle city councillor and member of the Adamstown branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). In 1972, he joined the Labor Council of New South Wales as an industrial officer and was elected as an organiser in 1975.

Identifying with the right wing of the labor movement, MacBean received support from Barrie Unsworth. He was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Labor Council in 1979 and became Secretary in 1984, a position he held until 1988. During his tenure, he adopted a more conciliatory approach towards left-wing unions compared to his predecessor. Additionally, MacBean served as President of the NSW branch of the ALP from 1983 to 1989 and as Senior Vice-President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions until 1989.

MacBean passed away on 26 May 2024 at the age of 88 due to complications from Parkinson's disease.