Awards and collective bargaining in Australia: What do they do, and are they relevant to New Zealand?

Abstract

This paper explains, in some depth, how the system of awards, collective agreements and individual contracts works in Australia. It also describes how many people are covered by these arrangements, how much they are paid and how awards and agreements interact. It discusses the effects of the award system, which are probably greater on equity (compressing wage relativities, providing some opportunities for action on gender pay equity) than on productivity (though skill-based wage structures may have some effect). The issues raised by it are relevant to debates in New Zealand about fair pay agreements, wage levels and pay equity.