Industrial Relations, Occupational Safety and Health, and Union Organising in Australia: Lessons and opportunities

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Author(s)
Barry, Michael
Loudoun, Rebecca
Year published
2006
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This paper examines the intersection between recent changes in industrial relations legislation and union involvement in health and safety in Australia. Of specific interest is how unions prioritise occupational safety and health concerns against other workplace issues that often form the basis of union campaigns. During this examination, claims that unions can use health and safety as an organising tool are evaluated from data collected in interviews with union officials based in regional and metropolitan centres in Queensland, Australia. Our evidence supports the view that unions have much to gain by focusing on members' ...
View more >This paper examines the intersection between recent changes in industrial relations legislation and union involvement in health and safety in Australia. Of specific interest is how unions prioritise occupational safety and health concerns against other workplace issues that often form the basis of union campaigns. During this examination, claims that unions can use health and safety as an organising tool are evaluated from data collected in interviews with union officials based in regional and metropolitan centres in Queensland, Australia. Our evidence supports the view that unions have much to gain by focusing on members' health and safety concerns, especially in an environment where union protections have been systematically weakened under industrial relations regulations. However, we also found that organising efforts around occupational safety and health remain isolated, with most unions continuing to focus on member interests within the realm of mainstream industrial relations.
View less >
View more >This paper examines the intersection between recent changes in industrial relations legislation and union involvement in health and safety in Australia. Of specific interest is how unions prioritise occupational safety and health concerns against other workplace issues that often form the basis of union campaigns. During this examination, claims that unions can use health and safety as an organising tool are evaluated from data collected in interviews with union officials based in regional and metropolitan centres in Queensland, Australia. Our evidence supports the view that unions have much to gain by focusing on members' health and safety concerns, especially in an environment where union protections have been systematically weakened under industrial relations regulations. However, we also found that organising efforts around occupational safety and health remain isolated, with most unions continuing to focus on member interests within the realm of mainstream industrial relations.
View less >
Journal Title
Policy and Practice in Health and Safety
Volume
4
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2006 IOSH Services Limited. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
Subject
Policy and administration
Human resources and industrial relations
Public health