Research

Overview

We are interested in examining in more detail critical questions about the present crisis that unions face, the future of collective bargaining and the inter-relationships between unions, the state and employers. In the immediate past, given the Australian political context, the impact of legislative change upon workers, unions and collective bargaining has been the primary concern. We are now locating these studies in wider international settings, changes in domestic politics and going on to examine the future of employee voice and collective bargaining.

Major areas of specific research interest now include:

1. Neo-liberalism and collective bargaining in Australia.
2. Union recognition in Australia and in comparative perspective.
3. Union organising in Australia and in comparative perspective.
4. An evaluation of Unions New South Wales campaign against Work Choices.
5. An evaluation of the New South Wales Nurses Associations political and campaign strategies in 2007.