Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T01:43:07.155Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Award Restructuring, Workplace Reform and the Changing Nature of Australian Industrial Relations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

R E Fells
R E Fells*
Affiliation:
University of Western Australia
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

This paper examines the changes taking place in Australian industrial relations. It takes as its starting point the policy objective of improving workplace productivity and examines the impact of reforms on this objective using Lewin’s framework for the analysis of change and a mining operation as a case study. The paper suggests that the reforms are only facilitative and this exposes a reliance on management for the achievement of the policy objective. The dominance of managerial perspective changes the fundamental nature of the industrial relations system and raises several important policy considerations, in particular issues relating to the recognition of trade unions.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Economic and Labour Relations Review , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , December 1993 , pp. 257 - 278
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1993

References

BCA (1989) Enterprise—Based Bargaining Units Business Council of Australia, Melbourne.Google Scholar
BCA (1993) The Impact of Workplace Reform on Business Performance’ Business Council Bulletin 96, pp.38–42.Google Scholar
Buchanan, J., Callus, R. (1993) ‘Efficiency and Equity at Work: The Need for Labour Market Regulation in Australia’ ACIRRT Working Paper 26, Sydney.Google Scholar
Callus, R., Morehead, A., Buchanan, J. (1991) Industrial Relations at Work: The Australian Workplace Industrial Relations Survey AGPS, Canberra.Google Scholar
Coch, L., French, J.P.R. (1948) ‘Overcoming Resistance to Change’ Human Relations 11, pp.512–532.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Curtain, R., Gough, R., Rimmer, M. (1992) Progress at the Workplace. Workplace Reform and Award Restructuring AGPS, Canberra.Google Scholar
Curtain, R., Mathews, J. (1990) ‘Two Models of Award Restructuing in Australia’ Labour and Industry 3 (1), pp.58–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DIR (1989) Award Restructuring The Task Ahead AGPS, Canberra.Google Scholar
DIR (1992) Workplace Bargaining. A Best Practice Guide AGPS, Canberra.Google Scholar
Drago, R., Wooden, M, Sloan, J. (1992) Productive Relations? Allen and Unwin, Sydney.Google Scholar
Edwards, R. (1979) Contested Terrain Basic Books, New York.Google Scholar
Fells, R.E. (1989) The Employment Relationship, Control and Strategic Choice in the Study of industrial Relations’ Labour and Industry 2 (3), pp.470–492.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fells, R.E. (1992) ‘Some Questions Arising Out of the Current Australian Experience’ Paper presented at ‘Collective Bargaining: Meeting the Challenge’ Seminar, Dwyer Durack, Perth.Google Scholar
Fells, R.E., Lambert, R.L. (1992) The Consultative Process and Workplace Change in the Iron Ore Sector — the Case of GML Paper presented at ‘Working For Change’ Conference, Department of Industrial Relations, Sydney.Google Scholar
Fox, A. (1966) Industrial Sociology and Industrial Relations Research Paper No.3, Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers Associations, HMSO, London.Google Scholar
Keating, P.J. (1993) Speech to the Institute of Directors, Melbourne, 21 April, 1993.Google Scholar
Lansbury, R., Macdonald, D. (1992) Workplace Industrial Relations Oxford University Press, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Lewin, K. (1947) ‘Frontiers in Group Dynamics’ Human Relations 1, pp.5–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ludeke, J.T. (1992) ‘Enterprise Bargaining and its Consequences’ Australian Law Journal 66, pp.509–522.Google Scholar
Hilmer, F.G. (1989) New Games New Rules Angus and Robertson, Sydney.Google Scholar
Plowman, D. (1990) ‘Award Restructuring: Possibilities and Portents’ Economic and Labour Relations Review 1 (1), pp. 15–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rimmer, M., Verevis, C., (eds.) (1990) Award Restructuring Industrial Relations Research Centre, University of N.S.W., Sydney.Google Scholar
Marchington, M., Parker, P. (1990) Changing Patterns of Employee Relations Harvester Wheatsheaf, London.Google Scholar
Salaman, G. (1981) Class and the Corporation Fontana Paperbacks, London.Google Scholar
Stoner, J.A.F., Collins, R.R., Yetton, P.W. (1985) Management in Australia Prentice Hall, Sydney.Google Scholar
Thompson, P. (1983) The Nature of Work Macmillan, Basingstoke.Google Scholar
Vecchio, R.P., Hearn, G., Southey, G. (1992) Organisational Behaviour Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Sydney.Google Scholar
Wooden, M., Sloan, J. (1990) ‘Award Restructuring: Factors Associated with its Progress and Success’ Labour and Industry 3, 215–234.CrossRefGoogle Scholar