Abstract
Union membership rose slightly, and density fell slightly, in 2013. More substantial falls were recorded in strike volumes, especially in ‘illegal’ strikes. A substantial part of some unions' time was taken up by the courts. For other unions, much time was taken up by (ultimately unsuccessful) party political campaigning. Campaigns in the service sector appeared to encounter major obstacles. Conservative governments at state levels made life very difficult for unions, some passing laws that evoked extensive opposition. A new conservative federal government looked set to follow suit, albeit subject to its own political constraints. But if unions thought that 2013 was challenging, 2014 looked set to take the challenges to a new level.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.ABC (2013a) NSW HSU ‘back on its feet' after corruption scandal. ABC News, 25 June. Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-24/hsu-27back-on-its-feet27-after-corruption-scandal/4776434 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
2.ABC (2013b) Liberal candidate says workplace policy comes after election, not before, ABC News, 29 August. Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-29/workchoices-sudmalis/4920352 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
3.Abetz E (2013) Review of the road safety remuneration system. Media Release, Office of Minister for Employment, 20 November. Available at: http://ministers.employment.gov.au/abetz/review-road-safety-remuneration-system (accessed 13 February 2014) .
4.Akerman P (2013) Magistrate says Slater & Gordon documents were part of AWU fraud. The Australian , 9 December. Available at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/investigations/magistrate-says-slater-gordon-documents-were-part-of-awu-fraud/story-fng5kxvh-1226778847865 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
5.
Allan
C
Dungan
A
Peetz
D
(2010 ) ‘Anomalies’, damned ‘anomalies’ and statistics: Construction industry productivity in Australia . Journal of Industrial Relations 52 (1 ): 61 –79 .
6.Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2013 ) Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership, Australia , Canberra : ABS Cat. no. 6310.0 .
7.Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) (2013 )
Various submissions available at:
. http://www.actu.org.au/Publications/Submissions/default.aspx (accessed 13 February 2014) .
8.Australian Medical Association Queensland (AMAQ) (2013 ) Unprecedented SMO/VMO employment changes . Available at: http://ama-au-q.informz.net/InformzDataService/OnlineVersion/Public?mailingInstanceId=906942 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
9.Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) (2013) High Court ruling on striking FIFO workers shows legislative change needed. Media release, 14 August. Available at: http://www.amma.org.au/assets/media/2013MediaReleases/Aug/20130815MEDIA_RELEASE_High%20_court_ruling_on_striking_FIFO_workers_shows_legislative_change_needed.pdf (accessed 13 February 2014) .
10.
Bach
S
Bordogna
L
(2013 ) Reframing public service employment relations: The impact of economic crisis and the new EU economic governance . European Journal of Industrial Relations 19 (4 ): 279 –294 .
11.
Bailey
J
Peetz
D
(2013 ) Unions and collective bargaining in 2012 . Journal of Industrial Relations 55 (3 ): 403 –420 .
12.
Bailey
J
Price
R
Esders
L
(2010 ) Daggy shirts, daggy slogans? Marketing unions to young people . Journal of Industrial Relations 52 (1 ): 43 –60 .
13.
Bleby
M
(2013 ) Ford to end Australian car manufacturing, cut 1200 jobs . Business Review Weekly . 23 May. Available at: http://www.brw.com.au/p/business/ford_to_end_australian_car_manufacturing_xsDs8d3tWGatkFttiK0N0I (accessed 13 February 2014) .
14.
Bogg
A
Forsyth
A
Novitz
T
(2013 ) Worker voice in Australia and New Zealand: The role of the state reconfigured? Adelaide Law Review 34 : 121 –130 .
15.
Brace
S
(2013 ) Queensland government redundancies: Harsh realities of reform . Journal of Industrial Relations 55 (3 ): 425 –429 .
16.
Brandis
G
. New Australian law reform inquiry to focus on freedoms 2013 Media Release, Office of the Attorney-General 11 December. Available at: http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/Mediareleases/Pages/2013/Fourth%20quarter/11December2013-NewAustralianLawReformInquiryToFocusOnFreedoms.aspx (accessed 13 February 2014) .
17.
Brennan
R
(2013 ) Unions warn workplace reforms signal more Queensland public servant redundancies . The Courier Mail . 18 October. Available at: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/unions-warn-workplace-reforms-signal-more-queensland-public-servant-redundancies/story-fnihsrf2-1226742217293 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
18.
Brigden
C
(2011 ) Unions and collective bargaining in 2010 . Journal of Industrial Relations 53 (3 ): 368 –382 .
19.
Brigden
C
(2012 ) Unions and collective bargaining in 2011 . Journal of Industrial Relations 54 (3 ): 361 –376 .
20.Brigden C and Kaine S (2013) Rethinking factional alliances and union renewal: Inter-union collaboration in the 21st century. Economic and Industrial Democracy . Epub ahead of print 17 September 2013. DOI: 10.1177/0143831X13501561 .
21.
Burchielli
R
Delaney
A
Coventry
K
(2013 ) Campaign strategies to develop regulatory mechanisms: Protecting Australian garment homeworkers . Journal of Industrial Relations 56 (1 ): 81 –102 .
22.Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) (2013 ) National Commission of Audit 2013: Community and Public Sector Union Submission, November 2013 . Available at: http://www.cpsu.org.au/system/files/commission_audit_submission_november_2013_0.pdf (accessed 13 February 2014) .
23.
Cooper
A
(2013 ) Court told details of Craig Thomson's alleged brothel expenses . Sydney Morning Herald . 4 December. Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/court-told-details-of-craig-thomsons-alleged-brothel-expenses-20131204-2ypxe.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
24.
Cresswell
J
(2013 ) Toyota employee vote banned by court . The Age . 12 December. Available at: http://m.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/toyota-employee-vote-banned-by-court-20131212-2z8sl.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
25.
Ellem
B
(2004 ) Hard Ground: Unions in the Pilbara , Port Hedland : Pilbara Mineworkers Union .
26.
Ellem
B
(2013a ) Peak union campaigning: Fighting for rights at work in Australia . British Journal of Industrial Relations 51 (2 ): 264 –287 .
27.
Ellem
B
(2013b ) A battle between titans? Rio Tinto and union recognition in Australia's iron ore industry . Economic and Industrial Democracy 35 (1 ): 185 –200 .
28.
Fairbrother
P
O'Brien
J
Junor
A
(2012 ) Unions and Globalisation: Governments, Management, and the State at Work , New York and London : Routledge .
29.
Forsyth
A
Stewart
A
(2013 ) Of ‘kamikazes’ and ‘mad men’: The fallout from the Qantas industrial dispute . Melbourne University Law Review 36 (3 ): 785 –830 .
30.
Hannan
E
(2013 ) Union men bury axe to take Rio . The Australian . 20 May. Available at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/union-men-bury-axe-to-take-rio/story-fn59noo3-1226646309379 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
31.
Healy
J
Kidd
M
(2013 ) Gender-based undervaluation and the equal remuneration powers of Fair Work Australia . Journal of Industrial Relations 55 (5 ): 760 –782 .
32.House of Representatives (2013 ) Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013: Explanatory Memorandum . Commonwealth Parliament Available at: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/ems/r5129_ems_cf47ce8b-f480-410f-a2ce-26d5fa513745/upload_pdf/388189.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf (accessed 13 February 2014) .
33.
Kearney
G
(2013 ) Insecure work: A choice for the labour movement . Address to the Victorian ALP State Conference, Melbourne, 21 April. Available at: http://www.actu.org.au/Tools/print.aspx?ArticleId=7885 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
34.
Kenny
M
Lucas
C
(2013a ) No Holden, Toyota doubt, recession maybe . Sydney Morning Herald . 12 December. Available at: http://smh.drive.com.au/no-holden-toyota-doubt-recession-maybe-20131211-2z6lc.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
35.
Kenny
M
Lucas
C
(2013b ) Liberal ire as Abetz goes ‘freelancing’ . Sydney Morning Herald . 23 April. Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/liberals-ire-as-abetz-goes-freelancing-20130822-2seh8.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
36.
Ker
P
(2013 ) Industrial relations tension flare [sic] . The Age . 19 July. Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/business/industrial-relations-tension-flare-20130718-2q782.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
37.
Lucas
C
(2013a ) Workers agree on wage freeze to save Holden . Sydney Morning Herald . 14 August. Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/workers-agree-on-wage-freeze-to-save-holden-20130813-2ruk8.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
38.
Lucas
C
(2013b ) Revived construction watchdog would get tough on unions . Sydney Morning Herald . 31 October. Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/revived-construction-watchdog-would-get-tough-on-unions-20131030-2whht.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
39.
Lynch
S
Price
R
Pyman
A
(2011 ) Comparative retail trade unions . In:
Grugulis
I
Bozkurt
O
(eds) Retail Work , Houndmills : Palgrave Macmillan , pp. 277 –296 .
40.
McCartin
J
(2013 ) Public sector unionism under assault . New Labor Forum 22 (3 ): 54 –62 .
41.
McClymont
K
(2013 ) Michael Williamson to be sentenced in March over HSU fraud . Sydney Morning Herald . 25 October. Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/michael-williamson-to-be-sentenced-in-march-over-hsu-fraud-20131025-2w5ur.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
42.
McCulloch
G
(2013 ) University bargaining state of play, November 2013. . Available at: http://www.nteu.org.au/blog/view/blog/displayAuthorId/2285 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
43.
Martin
P
(2013 ) Is Tony Abbott's ‘cop on the beat' worth $6 billion? Sydney Morning Herald . 28 August. Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/fact-checker/is-tony-abbotts-cop-on-the-beat-worth-6-billion-20130828-2spkd.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
44.
Norman
J
. No pay rise for aged care workers after Coalition scraps Workforce Compact fund. 2013 ABC News 12 December. Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-12/no-pay-rise-for-aged-care-workers-after-coalition-scraps-labor-/5153192 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
45.
Oliver
D
(2013 ) The union agenda for 2013 . Address to the National Press Club, Canberra, 6 February. Available at: http://www.actu.org.au/Media/Speechesandopinion/DaveOliveraddresstotheNationalPressClub6February2013.aspx (accessed 13 February 2014) .
46.
Orr
G
(2013 ) Industrial relations Bill sinks boot into union campaigning . Courier Mail . 10 May. Available at: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/industrial-relations-bill-sinks-boot-into-union-campaigning/story-e6frerdf-1226638827105#mm-breached (accessed 13 February 2014) .
47.Packham B and Creedy S (2013) Qantas to cut 1000 jobs as$300m loss looms. The Australian , 5 December. Available at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/qantas-to-cut-1000-jobs-as-300m-h1-loss-looms/story-e6frg95x-1226775818359 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
48.
Peetz
D
(2002 ) Decollectivist strategies in Oceania . Relations Industrielles/Industrial Relations 57 (2 ): 252 –281 .
49.
Peetz
D
(2005 ) Trend analysis of union membership . Australian Journal of Labour Economics 8 (1 ): 1 –24 .
50.
Quiggin
J
(2013 ) Commission of audit: A crusade of dated ideology and dead ideas . The Age . 5 November. Available at: http://www.theage.com.au/national/public-service/commission-of-audit-a-crusade-of-dated-ideology-and-dead-ideas-20131103-2wugf.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
51.
Rea
J
(2013 ) NTEU to spend $1 million on election campaign to defend higher education ; NTEU Media Release 18 June. Available at: http://www.nteu.org.au/article/NTEU-to-spend-%241million-on-election-campaign-to-defend-higher-education-14900 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
52.
Rintoul
S
(2013 ) Burger off! . Sydney Morning Herald . 28 September. Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/national/burger-off-20130923-2u8ni.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
53.
Roles
C
O'Donnell
M
(2013 ) The Fair Work Act and worker voice in the Australian Public Service . Adelaide Law Review 34 : 93 –117 .
54.
Schneiders
B
Millar
R
(2013 ) Abbott government to launch royal commission into union ‘slush funds' . Sydney Morning Herald . 12 December. Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-government-to-launch-royal-commission-into-union-slush-funds-20131212-2z76h.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
55.
Skulley
M
McDonald-Smith
A
(2013 ) MUA lifts offshore oil and gas strike threat . Australian Financial Review . 17 October. Available at: http://www.afr.com/p/australia2-0/mua_lifts_offshore_oil_and_gas_strike_r6YOsYe9zImyjTUqGGXvdL (accessed 13 February 2014) .
56.
Swan
J
Hall
B
(2013 ) Childcare workers asked to hand back wage rise . Sydney Morning Herald . 10 December. Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/childcare-workers-asked-to-hand-back-wage-rise-20131210-2z2pw.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
57.
Thompson
A
(2013 ) Public service pay offer goes to vote again ; ABC News 22 October. Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-22/nt-public-service-pay-negotiations-vote/5037422 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
58.Timebase (2013 ) Migration Amendment (Offshore Resources Activity) Bill 2013 becomes an Act in Federal Parliament . 3 July. Available at: http://www.timebase.com.au/news/2013/AT488-article.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
59.
Topsfield
J
Preiss
B
(2013 ) Teachers win big pay deal . The Age . 18 April. Available at: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/teachers-win-big-pay-deal-20130417-2i0nr.html (accessed 13 February 2014) .
60.
Vogler
S
Ironside
R
Vonow
B
(2013 ) Credit card spending by the State's unions will soon be posted online . Courier Mail . 9 November. Available at: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/credit-card-spending-by-the-state8217s-unions-will-soon-be-posted-online/story-fnihsrf2-1226700122575 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
61.
Walker
J
(2013 ) A town like Collinsville . Weekend Australian, 9 November . Available at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/a-town-like-collinsville/story-e6frg8h6-1226756038328 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
62.Workplace Express (2013a ) New deal for Qantas international cabin crew . 20 August. Available at: http://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&stream=2&selkey=49844&hlc=2&hlw=faaa&s_keyword=faaa&s_searchfrom_date=631112400&s_searchto_date=1386035822&s_pagesize=10&s_word_match=2&s_articles=2&stream=2 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
63.Workplace Express (2013b ) Unions hail Qantas deal as one of best yet, but hostilities flare . Available at: http://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&stream=2&selkey=50440&hlc=2&hlw=qantas&s_keyword=qantas&s_searchfrom_date=631112400&s_searchto_date=1386036324&s_pagesize=10&s_word_match=2&s_articles=2&stream=2 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
64.Workplace Express (2013c ) Qantas unlicensed engineers vote up deal . Available at: http://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&stream=2&selkey=50519&hlc=2&hlw=qantas+engineers+alliance&s_keyword=qantas+engineers+alliance&s_searchfrom_date=631112400&s_searchto_date=1386036022&s_pagesize=10&s_word_match=2&s_articles=2&stream=2 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
65.Workplace Express (2013d ) ASU clerical members vote up new Qantas deal . Available at: http://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&stream=2&selkey=51304&hlc=2&hlw=qantas+asu&s_keyword=qantas+asu&s_searchfrom_date=631112400&s_searchto_date=1386037852&s_pagesize=10&s_word_match=2&s_articles=2&stream=2 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
66.Workplace Express (2013e ) Industrial action can be discriminatory: Full bench . Available at: http://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&nav=1&selkey=51797&utm_source=instant+email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Instant+Email+Article+Link (accessed 13 February 2014) .
67.Workplace Express (2013f ) McDonald's deal one of year's highlights, says SDA . Available at: http://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&stream=2&selkey=51073&hlc=2&hlw=mcdonald%27s&s_keyword=mcdonald%27s&s_searchfrom_date=631112400&s_searchto_date=1386040365&s_pagesize=10&s_word_match=2&s_articles=2&stream=2 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
68.Workplace Express (2013g ) Hunter project arrangement ‘an exemplary model’: Tribunal . Available at: http://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&nav=1&selkey=51775&utm_source=instant+email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Instant+Email+Article+Link (accessed 13 February 2014) .
69.Workplace Express (2013h ) Queensland to require notice for union right of entry for safety investigations . Available at: http://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&stream=2&selkey=51469&hlc=2&hlw=work+safety+and+health +act&s_keyword=work+safety+and+health+act&s_searchfrom_date=631112400&s_searchto_date=1386048558&s_pagesize=10&s_word_match=2&s_articles=2&stream=2 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
70.Workplace Express (2013i ) Supreme Court thwarts concrete campaign . Available at: http://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&stream=2&selkey=49963&hlc=2&hlw=grocon&s_keyword=grocon&s_searchfrom_date=631112400&s_searchto_date=1386032050&s_pagesize=10&s_word_match=2&s_articles=2&stream=2 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
71.Workplace Express (2013j ) FWC initiates CFMEU right of entry review . Available at: http://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&stream=2&selkey=51754&hlc=2&hlw=lend+lease+adelaide&s_keyword=lend+lease+adelaide&s_searchfrom_date=631112400&s_searchto_date=1386033687&s_pagesize=10&s_word_match=2&s_articles=2&stream=2 (accessed 13 February 2014) .
72.Workplace Express (2013k ) Unions join forces in bid to eat Rio ‘elephant’ . Available at: http://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&stream=2&selkey=50527&hlc=2&hlw=rio+pilbara+may&s_keyword=rio+pilbara+may&s_searchfrom_date=631112400&s_searchto_date=1386034974&s_pagesize=10&s_word_match=2&s_articles=2&stream=2 (accessed 13 February 2014) .