Behind WorkChoices : how one company changed Australia\u27s industrial relations

Never has a form of legislation created such contentious and wide-reaching emotional debate in Australia. It has divided the community and has resulted in extensive media activity. To the forefront are Australian academics who have often been the resource of expert comment and their reports have been prolific. In this book, academics have taken to opportunity to write their own perception of the impact of Work Choices in the workplace.<br /

How the west was lost? Hamersley Iron, the birthplace of a decade of De-Unionisation

Given the focus of recent years on Rio Tinto\u27s battles with the Australian union movement over its (largely successful) attempt to de-unionise its diverse mining and manufacturing operations, this paper examines how the company first introduced its \u27staff employment system at Hamersley Iron in 1993. The success of this venture clearly provided a template for its replication throughout its many other operations over the following years. Though no doubt assisted by changed legal and political environments, this paper argues that it was ultimately the demonstration of managerial determination and a hesitant union leadership which led to the de-unionisation at Hamersley Iron. As the union movement/makes a renewed attempt to attract workers back to the fold, there are valuable lessons to be learnt from its earlier mistakes.<br /

The Liam Jurrah story : from Yuendumu to the MCG

Known as the \u27Warlpiri Warrior,\u27 the \u27Jurrahcane\u27 and \u27Cougar,\u27 Liam Jurrah is a rising star of the AFL, known for his startling displays of skill, artistry and the \u27deadly\u27 impact of his football ability. But despite Liam\u27s prodigious talent, he is a relative newcomer to the AFL. This book tells the incredible journey travelled by Liam, a fully initiated Warlpiri man, from the remote Aboriginal desert community of Yuendumu to the MCG, as the first of his kind to play football at an elite level. Along the way the book describes how the author and his family came to understand and treasure the richness of Liam\u27s Warlpiri culture.<br /

Employer matters in 2008

In terms of employer matters, the year 2008 may be best characterized as one dominated by change, challenge and Canberra, as the political landscape was transformed, industrial relations legislation was rewritten and global capitalism went into financial meltdown. The new political and economic environment seemed to demand a greater emphasis on consultation, efforts at cooperation and, dare I say it, in some cases even &lsquo;consensus&rsquo;. Nevertheless, employers were nonetheless active in pursuing their own objectives, with the main employer associations preoccupied for most of 2008 lobbying for changes and amendments to the form and substance of Labor&rsquo;s new industrial relations regime, Forward with Fairness. Importantly, the new industrial and legal landscape suggested that the changed status of the &lsquo;parties&rsquo; vis-a-vis awards, is likely to lead to increased competition for relevance among employer associations, leading to a series of amalgamations and rationalization, much as occurred with unions in the 1990s.<br /

Requisite organizational theory : management panacea or a lot of ROT?

This paper sets out to explain and critique the contribution made by Elliott Jaques to organizational and management theory. The attractiveness of the Jaquesian approach to senior managers is considered to be due to its justification for managerial authority, its logical worldview, and its claims of scientific rigour. Ultimately, however, his theoretical framework, today known as requisite organizational theory, despite having been developed from admirable intentions, is deemed to be seriously flawed and potentially dangerous.<br /

Employer matters in 2004

n 2004, employers were active in arguing their cases in a number of important hearings of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. However, despite a united position among employer ranks and the federal government, employers were generally disappointed with the Commission&rsquo;s safety net review decision. Both the Australian industry Group and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry found some common ground with the Australian Council of Trade Unions, in a consent position on extending carers leave, but overall employers presented a detailed argument opposing any extension of employee rights in the Commission&rsquo;s work and family test case. Employers in some sectors were able to reach collective agreements with unions with little industrial disruption, whereas others, such as banking, found the going tougher. Overall, employers, like unions, faced a great deal of uncertainty over what were or were not &lsquo;matters pertaining&rsquo;, as a number of decisions after the Electrolux case clarified or clouded the issue. Understandably, the year ended on a positive note for most employers, with the Howard Government re-elected with a majority in the Senate, enabling it to pass a further round of radical labour market reforms in 2005.<br /