Training and the new industrial relations: New Zealand research that explores Streeck’s Thesis

This New Zealand research finds some support for Wolfgang Streeck’s thesis that education and training offer unions strategic possibilities in a neo-liberal environment. But it also finds that political strategies are necessary when unions’ quasi-constitutional status has been substantially diminished

The Carmichael vision and training reform: Some insights from across the Tasman

This paper provides insights into aspects of trans--Tasman union influences in the 1980s and early 1990s. In particular, it examines Laurie Carmichael’s influence on New Zealand unions, especially with respect to education and training reforms. The paper traces how his influence grew as the relationship between the AMWU and the NZEU warmed through the 1980s. It also highlights the very major impact Australia Reconstructed had on thinking in New Zealand as unions struggled to respond to neoliberal policies and practices of the Fourth labour Government. The paper finds that the New Zealand reception of Australian ideas reflected, at least in part, the limitations o he left intellectual tradition in New Zealand

Workplace democracy and training reform: Some emerging insights from Australia and New Zealand

This paper builds on a series of published articles and chapters that date back to the ESREA seminar on Adult education and the labour market held in Slovenia in 1993 Law, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998a, 1998b. The overarching purpose of that work has been to track and analyse, from a labour studies perspective, trade union strategies to education and training reform in Australia and New Zealand since the mid-1980s

The knowledge society and high performance workplace systems: Enhancing worker voice

This paper focuses on an aspect of the ‘Future of Work’. The introduction of high performance workplace systems (hpws) is, in general terms, consistent with the broad thrust of the ‘knowledge society’ debate. The central thesis holds that the introduction of hpws has the potential to enhance ‘worker voice,’ especially in the context of a ‘third way’ political environment that fosters a more tripartite approach to industrial relations. The paper draws on several pieces of research, each of which has its own methodological approach. The discussion of the ‘knowledge society’ debate and the ‘third way’ political context draws on policy analyses undertaken by Law and Piercy. The body of the paper is based on a survey by Law of union members engaged in a hpws in a large NZ dairy factory. That research involved focus groups and a postal survey. Qualitative (write-in) responses were further analysed using a dynamic coding system developed by Law. The findings are consistent with the (US) work of Black and Lynch. With some qualifications, the introduction of hpws has enhanced worker participation. Active union involvement was a positive factor. For a proportion of union members, the introduction of hpws has had positive off-site effects

Industry training organisations in changing times: New research possibilities

The tertiary education reforms have placed considerable pressure on Industry Training Organisations (ITOs), which are now required to assume “new roles as strategic leaders in skills and training needs for the industries under their coverage" (Statement of Tertiary Education Priorities (STEP) 2003-04, P. 21). This paper argues that the STEP requirement can lead to productive relationships between ITOs and established research organizations. It considers the new context within which ITOs now operate and offers an illustrative case study of the sort of research that can result from collaborative relationships. Specifically, it reports on research commissioned by the New Zealand Industry Training Organisation (NZITO), which covers dairy manufacturing, meat processing, and leather processing, as part of' its strategic planning. The research reported includes: an analysis of the industries covered by the NZITO and their economic significance; the impact of an ageing workforce and other demographic on the labour market and its Implications for NZJTO industries; the impact of technological change on the labour market; and some of the consequences of the continuing integration of the global economy

Lean, but is it mean? Union members’ views on a high performance workplace system

The growing literature on high performance workplace systems suggests that in a unionised environment such systems can be advantageous for workers. This paper reports on a study of New Zealand dairy workers’ views on the introduction of a hpws. It reports little evidence to support the more optimistic claims in the literature. But it also reports that union members still support hpws, primarily for reasons of job security. Thus notwithstanding many of the findings, the paper concludes that there are limited grounds for a degree of optimism about the potential of union involvement in hpws to enhance worker voice

Social Partnership: Rebuilding Union Capacity Through Education

This paper employs a case study approach in order to update an expand on previous analyses of developments in union education in New Zealand. This particular paper focuses on the role of union education in the rebuilding of union capacity and reflects on theoretical and practical difficulties that confront unions in the wake neoliberaism