A Concise History of Australian Industrial Relations

Community and Industrial Relations
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A concise history of Australian industrial relations and the principles which

Have dictated its evolution i.e. the principle of conciliation and arbitration;
Industrial relations Theories
Unitary theory
This hypothesis distinguishes an organization as having people who have and share same
objectives, and work as individuals from one group. The unitary view perceives an association as
one major glad family. Unitarists see the venture as a unitary framework with one wellspring of
power – the managmen6, and one focal point of reliability – work. Unitary system praises the
goodness of cooperation, where everybody endeavors mutually to a typical target, each one
destroys their weight to the best of their capacity, and everybody acknowledges their place and
capacity readily (Bailey, Macdonald, and Whitehouse 2012, p.441). The unitary view considers
struggle to be an awful thing which ought not exist since it fills in as an imperative towards the
accomplishment of shared goals of both administration and work. Be that as it may, unitarism
has been scrutinized as being basically totalitarian and tyrant. It likewise does not perceive the
way that an association is comprised of people and gatherings with dissimilar and frequently
clashing interests.
Marxian (conflict) theory
In perspective on the intrinsic shortcoming of the unitary hypothesis in perceiving that an
association comprises of individuals who have frequently clashing interests, the Marxists
guessed that contention is an inalienable normal for the general public. This particular view
regarding relations views the nature of capitalist society where there exist key division of interest
between labor and capital, and views workplace relations against this particular background
(Baines 2010,p.480).This theory is inserted underway and thoughts of Karl Marx. This

hypothesis clarifies that contention is unavoidable and comes from disparities of influence and
financial riches intrinsic in an entrepreneur economy or society.
History
The industrial relation federation resulted when the common wealth of Australia emerged in the
year 1901.this led to the first ever existing industrial tribunal
The year 19992 particularly marked the landmark period of the history of Australian industrial
relations (Boyd et al, p.112). The existing Keating authority pressured for enterprise bargaining
as the industrial relations commission delayed hence pushing for workers issue sat the prospect
of wage inflation.
As the trade union acts passed in the early nineteenth century, employees had the legal capability
to negotiate collectively. This was done with their bosses over salaries and working
environmental conditions. Various industrial unions started in Australia in the 1860s and
1870s .They highly achieved success in negotiations for their union members for instance the
gold rush period where labor force was extremely scarce in the workplace (Buddelmeyer and
Wooden 2011, p.109).
This led to the trade unions defeat and movements hence the rise of industrial disputes.
Membership became highly decimated and trade unions had limited capacity to negotiate
successful on favorable grounds.
In this case various colonial politicians like Charles Kingston started a compulsory conciliation
and arbitration movement (Burchielli, Delaney and Coventry 2014, P.102).It was meant for the
purpose that if employer rejected negotiating with unions, then the law would offer a system for

trade unions to access an independent tribunal in order for it to offer a fair settlement on both
sides.
The emergence of conciliation and arbitration act of 1904 as a principle enabled the parliament
to enact laws and have the mandate to prevent and settle industrial disputes.
This act was then followed by a landmark case which brought about the idea of establishment of
minimum wage. Australia industrial awards system developed to uphold minimum rates of wage
for all work and a relative decrease in the amount of working hours per week.it also led to
offering of overtime, penalty rates (Davidson, Timo and Wang 2010, P.451). Pressure increased
in the system bringing wage breakouts in the 1980.various powerful trade unions started go
negotiate for wage increment above existing award rates. From the 1950s onward the industrial
relation system became every complex. Melbourne stone masons and construction workers
became the first bunch of industrial workers to win 8 hr.
Principles
Australia must move to another, spotless economy dependent on low contamination, high
aptitudes and high wages. Basic to this is a mechanical relations framework with a solid
wellbeing net that encourages powerful aggregate haggling and representative contribution in
change.
2. The Fair Work Act needs to make work/life balance a need. 'Adaptability' must turn into a
two-way road. Individuals need more prominent power over their working hours and courses of
action.
3. The Act needs to put more prominent accentuation on handling joblessness and occupation
instability.