Workplace Union Organization in Australia

Abstract

This paper challenges the conventional wisdom that Australian workplace union organization is not well developed and trade union activity at this level is virtually non-existent. The paper starts by reviewing the literature on trade union representation and activity at the workplace and the factors that have been proposed to explain variations in the level of organization. A case study of the Victorian power industry is then presented primarily to supplement the limited literature and to highlight the key role of local trade union organization. The paper concludes that whilst considerable variation occurs in the level of union organization at the workplace, there does exist a significant role for trade union representatives within a centrally dominated arbitral system.