What does Enterprise Bargaining Mean for Gender Equity? Some Empirical Evidence

Abstract

A growing literature on the likely impact of recent changes to the Australian industrial relations system raises a number of concerns about the implications for women (Robertson, 1992; Burgmann, 1994; Bennett, 1994). However, there is as yet little evidence on which to evaluate the effects of enterprise bargaining on concrete practices at the workplace level. As a means to redress this lack of data a survey was undertaken of Queensland workplaces with enterprise agreements. The survey results showed not only a generally low incidence of equity enhancing measures, but also very little evidence of any such measures having been introduced via enterprise bargaining. In addition, the data allowed some conclusions to be drawn about the range of factors associated with the presence or absence of equity measures at a workplace level. Overall, the findings offer little support for the view that enterprise bargaining will facilitate the redress of gender inequality.