Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T18:15:22.308Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Statutory Union Recognition in North America and the UK: Lessons for Australia?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

Chris Briggs
Chris Briggs*
Affiliation:
Workplace Research Centre, University of Sydney, NSW, 2006
*
*Any correspondence should be directed to [email protected].
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.

Should the Australian labour movement pursue a system of statutory union recognition? The experiences of the UK and Canada illustrate that such a system can address some of the worst breaches of freedom of association under the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth). However, the influence on union density and collective bargaining coverage is likely to be modest. It may also constitute a structural impediment to multi-employer bargaining, boxing unions into a system of fragmented bargaining, and results are sensitive to institutional design so there could be serious consequences if the system was re-engineered towards the US model in the future.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Economic and Labour Relations Review , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , April 2007 , pp. 77 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2007

References

ACTU (2006) A fair go at work: Collective bargaining for Australian workers. Report by an ACTU Delegation, September.Google Scholar
AFL-CIO (2007) The Employee Free Choice Act, Available: http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/efca/ [accessed 26 April 2007].Google Scholar
Adams, R. (1999) ‘Why statutory union recognition is bad labour policy: The North American experience’, Industrial Relations Journal, 30(2), pp.96–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arthurs, H., Carter, D., Glasbeek, H, Fudge, J. (1988) ‘Canada’, in Blanpain, R. (ed.), International Encyclopedia for Labour Law and Industrial Relations, Kluwer, Deventer, Netherlands.Google Scholar
Briggs, C. (2005) ‘Lockout law in comparative perspective: Corporatism, pluralism and neo-liberalism’, International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations, 21(3), pp. 481–502.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Briggs, C. (2006) ‘The return of lockouts down under in comparative perspective: Globalisation, the state and employer militancy’, Comparative Political Studies, 20(10), pp. 1–25.Google Scholar
Briggs, C. (2007) ‘After the storm: Union renewal in the UK and New Zealand’, International Labour Process Conference, Amsterdam, April 2–4.Google Scholar
Bronfenbrenner, K. (2003) ‘The American labor movement and the resurgence in union organising’, in Fairbrother, P., Yates, C. (eds.), Trade Unions in Renewal: a Comparative Study, Continuum, London, pp. 32–50.Google Scholar
Bronfenbrenner, K., Juravich, T. (1994) ‘The impact of employer opposition on union certification win rates: a private/public sector comparison’, Economic Policy Institute Working Paper No. 113, Economic Policy Institute, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
CAC (2005) Annual Report 2004–2005, Available: http://www.cac.gov.uk/cac_2_annual_report/Reports/CAC%20annaul%20Report%2004-05/2CACAnnualReport2005.pdf [accessed 10 November 2006].Google Scholar
Cooke, W. (1985) ‘The failure to negotiate first contracts: Determinants and policy implications’, Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 38(2), pp. 163–178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (2003a) Review of the Employment Relations Act 1999: Government Response to the Public Consultation, Available: http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file21205.pdf [accessed 17 November 2006].Google Scholar
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (2003b) Review of the Employment Relations Act 1999: Consultation Document, Available: http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file21201.pdf [accessed 17 November 2006].Google Scholar
Dickens, W. (1983) ‘The effect of company campaigns on certification elections: Law and reality once again’, Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 36(4), pp. 560–575.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ewing, K., Moore, S, Wood, S. (2003). Unfair Labour Practices: Trade Union Recognition and Employer Resistance, Institute of Employment Rights, United Kingdom.Google Scholar
Forsyth, A, Sutherland, C. (2006) ‘From “uncharted seas” to “stormy waters“: How will trade unions fare under Work Choices’, Economic and Labour Relations Review, 16(2), pp. 215–236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gall, G. (2003) ‘Employer opposition to union recognition’, in Gall, G. (ed), Union Organizing: Campaigning for Trade Union Recognition, Routledge, London, pp. 79–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gall, G. (2004) ‘Trade union recognition in Britain, 1995–2002: Turning a corner?’, Industrial Relations Journal, 35(3), pp. 249–270.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gall, G. (2006). ‘Trade union recognition in Britain — An Emerging crisis for trade unions’, Available: http://uin.org.uk/content/view/142/70/ [accessed 11 September 2006].Google Scholar
Godard, J. (2004) ‘Trade union recognition: Statutory unfair labour practice regimes in the USA and Canada’, Department of Trade and Industry Employment Relations Research Series no. 29, Department of Trade and Industry, London.Google Scholar
Heery, E., Simms, M. (2006) ‘Union organising under certification law in Britain’, in Gall, G. (ed), Union Recognition: Organising and Bargaining Outcomes, Routledge, London, pp. 44–63.Google Scholar
Institute of Employment Rights (2004) The Future of Employment Law: Which Way for the Next Manifesto?, Seminar Proceedings, March 2.Google Scholar
ILO. (2005) ‘CEACR: Individual observation concerning Convention No. 98, right to organise and collective bargaining, 1949 Australia’, Document No. (ilolex): 062005AUS098, Available: http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/cgi-lex/pdconv.pl?host=status01&textbase=iloeng&document=7924&chapter=6&query=Australia%40ref&highlight=&querytype=bool [accessed 17 November 2006].Google Scholar
Johnson, S. (2002) ‘Card check or mandatory representation vote? How the type of union recognition procedure affects union certification success’, The Economic Journal, 112(479), pp. 344–361.Google Scholar
Jordan, L., Bruno, B. (2006) ‘Does the organising means determine the bargaining ends?’, in Gall, G. (ed), Union Recognition: Organising and Bargaining Outcomes, Routledge, London, pp. 181–197.Google Scholar
McCallum, R. (2002) ‘Good faith bargaining, protected action and the need for a statutory trade union recognition procedure’, Tenth ACIRRT Annual Labour Law Conference, Sydney.Google Scholar
McKay, S., Moore, S. (2005) ‘The Role of ACAS in trade union recognition claims under the Employment Relations Act 1999’, Research Paper 03/05, ACAS, London.Google Scholar
McKay, S., Moore, S., Wood, H. (2006) ‘The nature of collective bargaining achieved through the statutory procedure’, in Gall, G. (ed.), Union Recognition: Organising and Bargaining Outcomes, Routledge, London, pp. 98–114.Google Scholar
Meltz, N. (1985) ‘Labor movements in Canada and United States’, in Kochan, T. (ed.), Challenges and Choices Facing American Labor, MIT Press, Cambridge, pp. 315–334.Google Scholar
Noakes, D, Cardell-Ree, A. (2001) ‘Recent cases: Individual contracts and the freedom to associate’, Australian Journal of Labour Law, 14(3), pp 89–96.Google Scholar
OECD. (2004) Employment Outlook, OECD, Paris.Google Scholar
Oxenbridge, S., Brown, W., Deakin, S., Pratten, C. (2003) ‘Initial responses to the statutory recognition provisions of the Employment Relations Act 1999’, British Journal of Industrial Relations, 41(2), pp. 315–334.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peetz, D. (2006) Brave New Workplace: How Individual Contracts are Changing Our Jobs, Allen and Unwin, Sydney.Google Scholar
Peetz, D. (2007) ‘Assessing the impact of “Work Choices” one year on’, Report to Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, Available: http://www.business.vic.gov.au/busvicwr/_assets/main/lib60104/4827wcanniversaryreportweb.pdf, [accessed 10 April 2007].Google Scholar
Quinn, D. (2004) ‘To be or not to be a member — Is that the only question? Freedom of association under the Workplace Relations Act’, Australian Journal of Labour Law, 17(1), pp. 1–34.Google Scholar
Riddell, C. (2001) ‘Union suppression and certification success’, Canadian Journal of Economics, 34(2). pp. 396–410.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riddell, C. (2004) ‘Union certification success under voting versus card-check procedures: Evidence from British Columbia, 1978–1998’, Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 57(4), pp.493–517.Google Scholar
Riley, J, Peterson, K. (2006) Work Choices: A Guide to the 2005 Changes, Thomson, Sydney.Google Scholar
Rose, J. (2006) ‘Collective Bargaining Performance of Newly Certified Unions in Canada: Process and Outcomes’, in Gall, G. (ed.), Union Recognition: Organising and Bargaining Outcomes, Routledge, London, pp. 198–214.Google Scholar
Rose, J., Chaison, G. (1996) ‘Linking Union Density and Union Effectiveness: The North American Experience’, Industrial Relations, 35(1): 78–105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomason, T. (1994) ‘The effect of accelerated certification procedures on union organising success in Ontario’, Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 47(2), pp. 207–226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomason, T., Pozzebon, S. (1998) ‘Managerial opposition to union certification in Quebec and Ontario’, Relations Industrielles, 53(4), pp. 750–771.Google Scholar
Townley, B. (1987) ‘Union recognition: A comparative analysis of the pros and cons of a legal procedure’, British Journal of Industrial Relations, 25(2), pp. 177–199.Google Scholar
Vernon, G. (2006). ‘Does density matter? The significance of comparative historical variation in unionization’. European Journal of Industrial Relations, 12(2), pp. 189–209.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Visser, J. (2006). ‘Union membership statistics in 24 countries’. Monthly Labor Review, No. 1, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington.Google Scholar
Weiler, P. (1983) ‘Promises to keep: Securing workers’ rights to self-organisation under the NLRA’, Harvard Law Review, 96(8), pp. 1769–1827.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, S., Godard, J. (1999) ‘The statutory union recognition procedure in the Employment Relations Bill: A comparative analysis’, British Journal of Industrial Relations, 37(2), pp. 203–245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, S., Moore, S., Ewing, K. (2003) ‘The impact of the trade union recognition procedure under the Employment Relations Act 2000–02’, in Gospel, H., Wood, S. (eds), Representing Workers: Union Recognition and Membership in Britain, Routledge, London, pp. 119–143.Google Scholar
Workplace Express. (2002) ‘DEWR Deal Sinks Under No Vote’, July 19, [Online], Available: http://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/ [accessed 20 February 2006].Google Scholar