Reforming Australian Industrial Relations?: The 21st Foenander Lecture, 28 August 2006

The Australian industrial system has undergone significant changes over the last 100 years. Through most of that period, the changes in principles and procedures have been incremental and were developed, at the federal level, mostly by the tribunals guided by the prevailing economic climate and the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of industrial relations 2007-06, Vol.49 (3), p.410-435
Main Author: Isaac, Joe
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Collective bargaining
Economic theory
Labor law
Labor relations
Legislation
Minimum wage
Studies
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Summary:The Australian industrial system has undergone significant changes over the last 100 years. Through most of that period, the changes in principles and procedures have been incremental and were developed, at the federal level, mostly by the tribunals guided by the prevailing economic climate and the submissions of employers, unions and governments. More recently, the changes have been driven by legislation. The Work Choices legislation marks a radical departure in scope and philosophy from the past. This article reviews the new legislation against the background of the requirements of an economically efficient and socially fair industrial relations system. It concludes that the case for the new system rests mainly on assertions and is not supported by persuasive evidence or argument. By promoting individual bargaining at the expense of collective bargaining and by greatly weakening union power and the role of the industrial umpire, the balance of economic power has been tilted greatly in favour of employer. These circumstances will encourage wage-cost cutting rather than deliver productivity improvement. They violate ILO Conventions; they go against the Australian ethos of a fair society and have the potential of being socially divisive.
ISSN:0022-1856
1472-9296
DOI:10.1177/0022185607077524