The Australian Way In Labor Relations

This publication provides an in-depth analysis of industrial relations and labour market policies in Australia, with particular attention to recent insights from three years of operating experience with a contestable employment services market.

Since the 1980s public policy has been perceived as being in a crisis of uncertainty. Many argue that consolidating the market imperative in both economic and social policy is the way out of this crisis. In this 1999 book, a leading group of writers challenge this view, calling for reassertion of a 'mixed' rather than a 'market' economy and a reaffirmation of the egalitarianism that has characterised past Australian social policy. The book confronts key issues of our time, particularly rising inequality and unemployment. Attempting to look beyond familiar debates about economic rationalism, it discusses the role of industry policy, the impact of globalisation, and the usefulness of competition models in the public, welfare, and community sectors. Asking whether economic and social policy can be reintegrated in a shared vision, this groundbreaking book argues the case for reinventing government rather than marginalising it.

The past decade has seen the decline in importance of the tribunal-based systems of conciliation and arbitration that have shaped relationships between labour and management in this country since the turn of the century.The remaining systems of industrial awards struggle to retain a place on centre stage and there has been a clear shift in the level at which wages and employment conditions are determined. An almost exclusive focus on industry and economy-wide considerations has given way to a hybrid system which places greater emphasis on the enterprise and the workplace.This book analyses these changes and provides an understanding of their impact on Australian workplaces. describes the changing nature of Australian industrial relations and the forces behind that change provides an understanding of the nature of the 'new' agreements, both collective and individual, that are being negotiated analyses how trade unions have reacted to, and have been affected by, changes in bargaining structures discusses the possible implications of changing industrial relations arrangements for the nature of work and for individuals performing that work examines whether changes in bargaining structures have had any impact on business performance, especially through enhanced worker productivity; and considers likely future trends in industrial relations arrangements. This book ... "makes an important contribution to the study of Australian industrial relations arrangements and can be expected to have a significant impact on both policy and research in the years ahead".