Labor Revitalization? The Case of Australia1

Cooper, Rae; Westcott, Mark; Lansbury, Russell D.

doi:10.1016/s0277-2833(03)11008-4

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The opportunities inherent in this situation have been recognised by Australian unions. The Australian Council of Trade Unions has placed “organising the unorganised” at the core of its organising model (Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), , , see also Cooper et al ., for more detail). It is beyond the scope of this paper to explore these issues in detail.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Determinants of Individual Union Membership in Australia: A Structural Approach Using Panel Data

Dobbie

Nahm

2017

J of App Econs and Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper uses The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey to estimate a structural probit model of the determinants of individual union membership. The paper finds that union membership responds positively to the wage differential between union and non‐union workers. Consistent with other Australian and overseas research, we find that job rather than individual characteristics are the most important determinants of the probability of union membership. We contrast our research with previous Australian research from the 1980s when unionism was compulsory for many workers. We find significant similarity between the major drivers of individual union membership.

show abstract

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Determinants of Individual Union Membership in Australia: A Structural Approach Using Panel Data

Dobbie

Nahm

2017

J of App Econs and Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Unions are faced with many challenges as a result of the decline in unionisation and hostile legislation by the Coalition government. But the ACTU has been developing organising skills to revitalise workplace unionism and forging alliances with the broader community (Cooper et al 2003). Regional strategies have also been successfully implemented by unions in areas such as the Pilbara, to win back members and restore collective bargaining rights (Ellem 2003).…”

Section: The Way Aheadmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kingsley Laffer Memorial Lecture

Lansbury

2004

Journal of Industrial Relations

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

D espite rising levels of prosperity in Australia in recent decades, there is growing economic and social inequality. Many people are working longer hours and more intensively in insecure jobs. Australia has one of the highest levels of casual employment in the industrialised world. Stress at work is one of the major causes of occupational illness. A more decentralised system of industrial relations has contributed to this situation by removing many of the previous safeguards that workers had under awards and agreements. This is exemplified by a number of award-based employment arrangements related to various forms of leave (e.g. sick leave and maternity leave) which have been 'traded off' in enterprise agreements, often without union involvement or worker representation. This process has been assisted by the federal government's legislative reforms which have been hostile to unions and have contributed to a decline in unionisation. The government has also weakened the powers of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to protect workers whose bargaining power is weak. Many of those who advocate an even more deregulated and individualised form of industrial relations for Australia argue that the forces of globalisation provide no alternative. Yet other countries, particularly in northern Europe, have retained strong labour market institutions to provide adequate social protection while competing effectively in the international economy. Indeed, rather than seeing globalisation as a threat, Australia should be supporting the efforts of international agencies, such as the International Labour Organisation, to assist other small nations to strengthen the rights of their citizens in the workplace and labour market. To ensure that Australia remains both a prosperous and an equitable society, we need a new social contract or partnership between employers, workers, unions, community, organisations and government. The three pillars of a new social contract comprise I wish to thank Greg Patmore and my colleagues in Work and Organisational Studies at the University of Sydney for the honour of inviting me to deliver this year's Laffer lecture. I am indebted to many of my colleagues for their comments on earlier drafts of this paper. My wife, Gwen, and children Owen and Nina, also provided valuable help and advice. I also wish to thank Rawya Mansour for her patient and meticulous assistance. Any errors are entirely my own responsibility.

show abstract

Unmet Demand for Union Membership in Australia

Pyman

Teicher

Cooper

et al. 2009

Journal of Industrial Relations

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Unmet demand for union membership is defined as employees in non-union workplaces who would join a union if given the opportunity. Unmet demand is a significant issue for Australian unions as union density continues to decline and the current legislative environment remains hostile. This article gauges the contours of unmet demand for union membership in Australia, drawing on responses to the Australian Worker Representation and Participation Survey (AWRPS 2004). It finds a significant level of unmet demand for union membership in Australia. Unmet demand varies according to workplace and employee characteristics and is highest among low income earners, younger workers, workers with shorter organizational tenure and workers in routinized occupations. The practical implications of our findings are discussed in relation to union renewal and the legislative environment prevailing in 2008.

show abstract

Labor Revitalization? The Case of Australia1

Cited by 3 publications

References 16 publications

The Determinants of Individual Union Membership in Australia: A Structural Approach Using Panel Data

The Determinants of Individual Union Membership in Australia: A Structural Approach Using Panel Data

Kingsley Laffer Memorial Lecture

Unmet Demand for Union Membership in Australia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About