Inequality, worker mobilisation and lessons from history: Australia 1788-1900

ABSTRACT

Neoliberalism has wrought fundamental changes in the world of work, leading to rising inequality, substantial weakening of organised labour and a decline in industrial relations as a field, especially in relation to teaching. Drawing on historical ‘big data’ this paper argues that examining the history of worker mobilisation provides a better understanding of these developments, including the importance of considering diverse forms of organisation and action as well as multi-pronged methods built around a key set of issues. It can also inform efforts to address challenges posed by neoliberalism. We conclude by arguing that an historical perspective can better equip the field of industrial relations to meet challenges extending beyond the world of work.

KEYWORDS:

• Inequality
• worker mobilisation
• industrial relations
• big data history
• precarious work and COVID-19
• neoliberalism

Disclosure statement

The authors received funding assistance from the Australian Research Grant Scheme and Australian Research Council collecting data that forms the basis of this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council;Australian Research Grant Scheme (LP180101048).

Notes on contributors

Michael Quinlan

Michael Quinlan is emeritus professor of industrial relations at UNSW Sydney. He has published extensively on precarious work, occupational health and safety (OHS), and the history of work regulation and worker organisation as well as preparing reports for governments on OHS.

Hamish Maxwell-Stewart

Hamish Maxwell-Stewart is professor of heritage and digital history at the University of New England, Australia. He has researched and published extensively on the history of convict transportation including its connections to slavery and other unfree labour regimes.