Trade Unionism in 2001

Abstract

Early in 2001 it looked set to be a bumper year for Australian trade unions, with a change in government seemingly inevitable and the release of figures that showed membership growth for the first time in many years. Instead, the year was characterised by a series of defensive campaigns aimed at salvaging workers’ entitlements in the face of corporate collapse, the third successive election of the anti-union Coalition Government and the establishment of a Royal Commission purpose-built to demonise trade unions. In the face of adversity Australian unions nevertheless secured improvements in the maternity rights of women workers, and commenced in earnest the campaign to win reasonable working hours. This article reviews Australian trade union matters in 2001.