Industrial Relations in 1999: Workplace Relations, Legalism and Individualization

While industrial relations events of 1999 defy neat categorization, an under lying theme was the continuing articulation of a decentralized system. This was evident in the continuing growth of non‐standard employment, the proliferation of agreements and the changing role of the Australian Industrial...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Asia Pacific journal of human resources 2000-07, Vol.38 (2), p.4-22
Main Authors: Van Gramberg, Bernadine, Teicber, Julian, Griffin, Gerry
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
agreements
Australia. Industrial Relations Reform Act 1994
Australia. Workplace Relations Act 1996
Australian Industrial Relations Commission
Australian Workplace Agreements
Contracts
Dispute resolution
employment advocate
freedom of association
Human resource management
individ ualization
Industrial law
Industrial relations
Reith, Peter
Trade unions
workplace relations
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Summary:While industrial relations events of 1999 defy neat categorization, an under lying theme was the continuing articulation of a decentralized system. This was evident in the continuing growth of non‐standard employment, the proliferation of agreements and the changing role of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. A feature of its emerging role has been literal adherence to the provisions of the Workplace Relations Act (WRA). At the same time the Employment Advocate embarked on a high profile campaign to publicize the freedom of association provisions of the WRA, though few complaints ended in the courts. This is not to say that employers and unions did not utilize the freedom of association provisions. Duress and discrimination in connection with the making of agreements are emerging as fertile fields for litigation. The union response to an unfavourable environment was not confined to court actions and included a new ACTU strategy, Unions @ Work, and novel industrial campaigns in the metals and building industries. By the end of 1999, the federal government's ‘second wave’ industrial legislation had been defeated, though as we have argued this bill contained important proposals which are likely to be revisited in 2000. We conclude that the main themes emerging from 1999 are increasing legalism, increasing government intervention into workplace relations, and individualization of the employment relationship.
ISSN:1038-4111
1744-7941
DOI:10.1177/103841110003800202