The Decline of Australian Union Density—A Survey of the Literature

Abstract

This paper reviews the literature on the decline in Australian union density within the context of similar research overseas. Five broad approaches are analyzed to study changes in unionization—structural shifts, macroeconomic factors, institu tional and organizational influences, the individual decision, and comparative material. Relevant Australian studies are critically reviewed and compared with studies performed in other countries. The review highlights the complexity of the problem, the need to avoid simplistic responses, and makes suggestions as to which areas of research appear most likely to increase our understanding of the recent sharp decline in unionization.

Unionism in the Hunter Valley: An Exploratory Regional Study

“…Moreover, lower levels of unionism in the Hunter seem almost certain in future with the increasing impact of those structural Downloaded by [Nanyang Technological University] at 10:14 05 June 2016 factors commonly identified as contributing significantly to union decline such as changing workforce structure, declining firm size, growth of service industries (see Peetz, 1990 andGriffin andSvensen, 1996). The federal Workplace Relations Act 1996 has begun to exacerbate this decline 6 • Thus, unless a sense of crisis begins to pervade unions in the region and there is a greater commitment to recruitment, particularly outside the now declining manufacturing industries and public utilities, the nature of industrial relations in the region seems set to become more individualistic.…”

Globalization, non-standard employment and Australian trade unions

“…The reasons for the diminishing membership of trade unions are varied and complex and include the effects of industry structural change, the failure of trade union policy, direct legislative attack by employer groups and governments together with populist attacks by the media. This broader discussion of the reasons for the falling trade union density in Australia, while critical, is outside of the scope of this chapter (see Crosby and Easson, 1992;Griffin and Svenson, 1996;Peetz, 1996). The causal relationship between decline in trade union density and growth in non-standard employment in Australia is not clearcut.…”

The Organising Model in Australia: A Reassessment

“…Union decline in Australia, as elsewhere, is a complex matter involving many interrelated factors, including structural changes in the economy, increased global competition, the growth in various categories of contingent employment, and industrial relations deregulation (Griffin and Svensen 1996;Alexander, Green and Wilson 1998;Gahan and Bell1999;Wooden 1999;Griffin, Small and Svenson 2003;Griffin 2007;Peetz, 1998Peetz, 2006. Much attention has focused on the supposed dependency of the Australian union movement on the systems of compulsory conciliation and arbitration that shaped industrial relations prior to Downloaded by [Heriot-Watt University] at 16:38 03 January 2015…”