 He soon moved to Bury and helped bring about the merger which formed the Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE) in 1851.In 1863, he was appointed as the Manchester Vacant Bookkeeper for the society, and became known for his honesty and devotion to duty in the post.By 1882, Austin was the chairman of the Manchester and Salford Trades Council and, in the post, was centrally involved in organising that year's Trades Union Congress (TUC).