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MGTS2607 Employment Relations

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MGTS2607 Employment Relations
Trade Union Decline in Australia

There has been a dramatic decline in trade union membership rates across Australia since the 1980s. In 1986, 46% (or 2.6 million) of employees were trade union members; this figure has steadily declined to 19% (or 1.7million) of employees in 2007
(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2009). By May 2010 trade union membership had fallen to a record low of 18% (or 1.84 million) of employees and remained steady for the past 3 years (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013).

This essay aims to highlight the factors that have played a significant role in the steady decline of unionization in Australia. It focuses on the changing composition of the labour force, the change in governmental policies, the newly empowered role of management and employers and the structures and activities of trade unions themselves.
Evidence suggests that Australians have not become more hostile to trade unions and that they still value the benefits provided by unions (Bailey, Esders, McDonald, &
Price, 2010). This indicates that Australian trade unions have a significant untapped potential for growth and with the right structure and policy improvements, unions could maintain their relevance in the Australian labour relations market.

Factors Responsible for Trade Union Decline in Australia
Changing Composition and Structure of the Workforce
The changing structure and composition of the Australian labour force is often cited as an explanation for union decline. Since the 1980s there has been an increase in the employment shares of women, foreign-born workers, atypically employed workers (part time and casual employees), white-collar workers and highly skilled individuals
(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008). This shift in composition is associated with
MGTS2607
Employment Relations

Trade Union Decline Essay

1

Sarah Jury


References: Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2008, July 27). Australian Social Trends. Retrieved September 10, 2013, from Australian Bureau of Statistics: Trade Union Membership, Australia. Retrieved September 10, 2013, from Australian Bureau of Statistics: September 10, 2013, from Australian Bureau of Statistics: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Chapter7202008 Australian Council of Trade Unions. (2011). Women in Australian Unions 2011. Bailey, J., Esders, L., McDonald, P., & Price, R. (2010). Daggy Shirts, Daggy Slogans? Marketing Unions to Young People Barnes, A. (2006). Trade Unionism in 2005. Journal of Industrial Relations , 48 (3), 369-383. Bearfield, S. (2003, March). Australian employees’ attitudes towards Unions. Institution of Industrial Relations , 1-27. Bramble, T. (2001). Australian Union Strategies Since 1945. Labour & Industry: a journal of the social and economic relations of work , 11 (3), 1-25. Bray, M., Waring, P., & Cooper, R. (2011). Employment Relations: Theory and Practice (Vol Carter, B., & Cooper, R. (2002). "The Organizing Model and the Management of Change: A Comparative Study of Unions in Australia and Britain" Cooper, R., & Ellem, B. (2008). The Neoliberal State, Trade Unions and Collective Bargaining in Australia Ebbinghaus, B., & Eichhorst, W. (2006). Employment Regulation and Labor Market Policy in Germany, 1991-2005 Holgate, J., & Simms, M. (2010). Organising for what? Where is the debate on the politics of organising? Work, Employment and Society , 24 (1), 157-168. Pyman, A., Holland, P., Teicher, J., & Cooper, B. (2010). Industrial Relations Climate, Employee Voice and Managerial Attitudes to Unions: An Australian Schnabel, C. (2012). Union Membership and Density: Facts and Challenges. Institute for the Study of Labor, IZA , 374-412.
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