Understanding Australian Industrial Relations

Kenneth Walker's 1956 publication, Industrial Relations in Australia, was acclaimed as the first full-scale analysis of the factors shaping Australian industrial relations. Significant developments during the ensuing years, however, necessitated a thorough reevaluation of the field. In his revised book Walker examines these extensive developments, reorganizes his approach, incorporates much additional material, and, in general, provides a more comprehensive view of Australian industrial relations. The organizing theme of this new work is John T. Dunlop's concept of the industrial relations system, which the author applies to the Australian situation, distinguishing among national, state, industry, and plant systems.

The world of paid work is fundamental to the functioning of society. There are many stakeholders - from governments, unions and employer associations, through to individual employers and employees. This text examines different approaches to understanding the nature of the employment relationship, complete with a contextual background as to how this relationship has changed and developed throughout our nation\'s history. The Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Act 2005 signalled the dawning of a new era in employment relations in Australia. This text offers a balanced view of this legislation, and explores its likely impact. It is ideal for a first course in contemporary Employment Relations.

Understanding Australian industrial relations: workchoices update.

The second edition of Introduction to Employment Relations takes a broad-based approach to the subject of workplace relations in Australia. Employment relations encompasses all aspects of people at work whereas, historically, industrial relations (IR) and human resource management (HRM) have focused on distinct aspects. The focus of IR is on collective approaches to employment, while for HRM, the emphasis is on more individual approaches. In keeping with its broad-based approach, the book covers the organisation of work, unions and employer associations, awards and agreements, staffing and development, managing performance and rewards, in addition to identifying and explaining the major changes in employment relations in recent years. This book is suitable for introductory courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The field of employment and industrial relations is undergoing dramatic changes in the developed world; whilst developing economies are also experiencing their own shifts in practice and policy. The chapters in this collection provide detailed and up-to-date analyses of industrial relations developments in four contrasting economies: Australia, the United Kingdom, China and Vietnam. Readers are invited to make a comparative study of these very different regions and regimes. Chapters are contributed by leading authorities in employment and industrial relations and make the complex detail of new industrial relations laws easy to understand. This book is designed for students and scholars of employment and industrial relations, and provides an excellent reference for practitioners and students of labour economics and international and comparative human resource management.

Aust Labour & Employment Law

Australian Workplace Relations explains the defining themes in workplace relations in the twenty-first century. It explores issues relating to employee voice, declining trade union membership, occupational health, disadvantaged workers and surveillance in the workplace. The treatment of each topic is placed in both a national and an international context. The book examines the effects on Australian workplace relations of globalisation, the changing international economy and the Global Financial Crisis. It provides a comprehensive examination of the Fair Work Act 2009. Case studies provide in-depth explorations of four important sectors of the economy: health, retail and hospitality, the public sector and motor vehicle components. The textbook includes additional resources for students and lecturers on a companion website: Power-Point slides, lists for further reading, additional case studies and links to websites. Comprehensive and fully cross-referenced, Australian Workplace Relations is an invaluable resource for upper-level undergraduate students of workplace, employee or industrial relations.

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".