Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T08:15:16.306Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Enterprise Bargaining: The Truth Revealed at Last

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

Malcolm Rimmer  and
Lee Watts
Lee Watts
Affiliation:
National Key Centre in Industrial Relations, Monash University
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 is a selective review of recent Australian research upon enterprise bargaining and workplace industrial relations. It begins with a discussion of data collection methods, pointing out some strengths and weaknesses of survey, case study, and agreement text analysis methods. It then focusses upon two substantive issues to test the success of research. The first concerns the infrastructure for enterprise bargaining. Our conclusion is that research illuminates this topic, and reveals general unreadiness. The second issue is productivity performance and enterprise bargaining. We are far more sceptical that research has proved a relation between the two. We conclude with the observation that researchers may be on the wrong track if they try to quantify the effects of enterprise bargaining on productivity performance. The paper recommends that greater attention be given to change management programmes designed to increase competitiveness, and to the outcomes sought from these, rather than to productivity.

Type
Contemporary Issues
Information
The Economic and Labour Relations Review , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , June 1994 , pp. 62 - 80
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1994

References

Ahlstrand, B. (1990) The Quest for Productivity: A Case Study of Fawley after Flanders, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Batstone, E., Boraston, I., Frenkel, S. (1977) Shop Stewards In Action, Blackwell, Oxford.Google Scholar
Bray, M. (1993) ‘Decentralised Bargaining in North America and Japan’, in Peetz, D., Preston, A., Docherty, J. (eds.) Workplace Bargaining In The International Context, AGPS, Canberra.Google Scholar
Brown, M., Ferris, R. (1991) ‘Getting Agreement: A Review of Industrial Agreements in Victoria, 1981–1990’, Journal of Industrial Relations, March.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, W., Zappala, G. (1993) ‘The British Experience of Enterprise Bargaining’, EPAC, Enterprise Bargaining Systems: International Case Studies, Background Paper No. 33, AGPS, Canberra.Google Scholar
Buchanan, J. (1992) ‘Is the Enterprise the Most Appropriate Bargaining Unit in a Decentralised System’, in ACIRRT, National Wages Policy & Workplace Wage Determination — The Critical Issues, Monograph No. 7, Sydney.Google Scholar
Buchanan, J., Campbell, D., Callus, R., Rimmer, M. (1992) Facing Retrenchments: Strategies & Alternatives for Enterprises, AGPS, Canberra.Google Scholar
Business Council of Australia, Industrial Relations Study Commission, (1989) Enterprise Based Bargaining Units: A Better Way of Working, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Callus, R., Morehead, A., Cully, M., Buchanan, J. (1991) Industrial Relations At Work, AGPS, Canberra.Google Scholar
Clegg, H.A. (1976) Trade Unionism Under Collective Bargaining, Blackwell, Oxford.Google Scholar
Curtain, R., Gough, R., Rimmer, M. (1992) Progress at the Workplace: Workplace Reform and Award Restructuring (4 Vols) DIR, Canberra.Google Scholar
Crean, S., Rimmer, M. (1990) Australian Unions: Adjustment to Change, Monograph No. 1, National Key Centre in Industrial Relations, Monash University, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Crockett, D., Dawkins, P., Mulvey, C. (1993) ‘The Impact of Unions on Workplace Productivity & Profitability in Australian Workplaces’, ACIRRT, The Economics & Labour Relations of Australian Workplaces, Monograph No. 10, Sydney.Google Scholar
Dawkins, P., Wooden, M. (1993) ‘Understanding Industrial Action in Australian Workplaces’, ACIRRT, Monograph No. 10, Ibid.Google Scholar
Department of Industrial Relations/ACIRRT, (1993) The Spread & Impact of Workplace Bargaining: Survey Evidence from the Workplace Bargaining Research Project, Exhibit to National Wage Case.Google Scholar
Drago, R., Wooden, M., Sloan, J. (1992) Productive Relations? Australian Industrial Relations & Workplace Performance, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.Google Scholar
Frenkel, S., Peetz, D. (1990) ‘Enterprise Bargaining: The BCA’s Report on Industrial Relations Reform’, Journal of Industrial Relations, December.Google Scholar
Frenkel, S., Shaw, M. (1989) ‘No Tears for the Second Tier: Productivity Bargaining in the Australian Metal Industry’, Australian Bulletin of Labour, March.Google Scholar
Frenkel, S., Shaw, M. (1991) ‘Employee Relations & Organisational Growth and Decline: A Case Study”, Journal of Industrial Relations, June.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gardner, M. (1992) ‘The Consequences of a Decentralised Wages System’, ACIRRT, National Wages Policy, Monograph No. 7.Google Scholar
Gill, F. (1993) ‘Statistics in the Social Sciences: A Mixed Blessing’, ACIRRT, The Economics & Labour Relations of Australian Workplaces, Monograph No. 10.Google Scholar
Harbridge, R. (1993) (ed.), Employment Contracts: New Zealand Experiences, Victoria University Press, Wellington.Google Scholar
Harbridge, R. (1993) ‘From Awards to Enterprise Agreements: A Comparison of New Zealand & Federal Australian Experiences’, (unpublished paper).Google Scholar
Hilmer, F. Chair (1993) Working Relations: A Fresh Start for Australian Enterprises, Employee Relations Study Commission of the BCA, The Business Library, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Isaac, J. (1993) Labour Market Regulation: Arbitration & Enterprise Bargaining — Are They Compatible?, National Key Centre in Industrial Relations, Working Paper No. 27, Monash University.Google Scholar
Isaac, J., Kates, S., Peetz, D., Fisher, C., Macklin, R., Short, M. (1993) A Survey of Small Business & Industrial Relations, Industrial Relations Research Series, No. 7, DIR, Canberra.Google Scholar
Lansbury, R., Macdonald, D., (eds.) (1992) Workplace Industrial Relations: Case Studies, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Labour Information Network (LIN) (1993) Trends in Enterprise Bargaining, Bulletin 1, December, ACTU, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Littler, C., Quinlan, M., Kitay, J. (1990) ‘Australian Workplace Industrial Relations: Towards A Conceptual Framework”, Journal of Industrial Relations, December.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Macklin, R., Goodwin, M., Docherty, J. (1993) ‘Workplace Bargaining: Structures & Processes in Australia’, in Peetz, , et al (eds.) Workplace Bargaining in the International Context.Google Scholar
McDonald, T., Rimmer, M. (1988) ‘Award Structure and the Second Tier’, Australian Bulletin of Labour, June.Google Scholar
McDonald, T., Rimmer, M. (1989) ‘Wages Policy and Award Restructuring’, Growth, CEDA, 37.Google ScholarPubMed
Nutku, K. (1993) ‘The Impact of Award Restructuring & Workplace Reform’, in Hilmer, Working Relations.Google Scholar
Ogden, M., (1993) Towards Best Practice Unionism: The Future of Unions in Australia, Pluto Press, Sydney.Google Scholar
Peetz, D., (1990) ‘Explanations of Changes in Trade Union Density, 1976–1988’, Journal of Industrial Relations, June.Google Scholar
Macneil, J., Testi, J., Rimmer, M. (1993) Raising the Standards — Benchmarking & Best Practice in Australia: Progress in the top 500 Enterprises, Best Practice Program.Google Scholar
Plowman, D., Favotto, I. (1992) ‘Enterprise Specific Arrangements in New South Wales Manufacturing’, Australian Bulletin of Labour, December.Google Scholar
Plowman, D., Rimmer, M. (1992) Bargaining Structure, Award Respondency and Employer Associations, University of New South Wales, Monograph No. 33.Google Scholar
Price, R. (1991) ‘The Comparative Analysis of Union Growth’, in Adams, R., (ed.), Comparative Industrial Relations, Harper Collins, London.Google Scholar
Rimmer, M. (1989) ‘Enterprise or Industry Awards?’, in BCA, Enterprise Based Bargaining Units.Google Scholar
Rimmer, M., Verevis, C. (1990) Award Restructuring: Progress at the Workplace, University of New South Wales, Monograph No. 22.Google Scholar
Rimmer, M., Zappala, J. (1988) ‘Labour Market Flexibility and the Second Tier’, Australian Bulletin of Labour, September.Google Scholar
Sloan, J., Wooden, M. (1990) ‘The Structural Efficiency Principle in Action — Management Views’, Australian Bulletin of Labour, June.Google Scholar
Still, L, Mortimer, D. (1993) ‘The Effectiveness of Award Restructuring and the Training Levy in Providing a More Educated Workforce: A Comparative Study’, International Journal of Employment Studies, April.Google Scholar
Watts, L. (1994 forthcoming), ‘Effective Unionism in the 1990s: What is it and how do we achieve it?’, Best Practice Program, Discovering Best Practice Unionism, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Zappala, J. (1988) Workplace Industrial Relations in Australia: An Annotated and Selected Bibliography, BCA, Sydney.Google Scholar
Zappala, J. (1990) ‘Australian Workplace Industrial Relations: Towards a Conceptual Framework — A Comment’, Journal of Industrial Relations, December.CrossRefGoogle Scholar