Trade Unionism in Australia: A History from Flood to Ebb Tide

by Tom Bramble

In the late 1960s Australian unionism was on the flood growing in strength, industrially confident and capable of shaping the overall political climate of the nation. Forty years on, union membership and power is ebbing away despite community support for trade unionism and the continuing need for strong unions. Even the unprecedented mobilisation against WorkChoices, which defeated a government and lost the prime minister his own seat, has done little to turn the tide. With compelling rigour, Tom Bramble explores the changing fortunes of what was once an entrenched institution. Trade Unionism in Australia charts the impact on unions of waves of economic restructuring, a succession of hostile governments and a wholesale shift in employer attitudes, as well as the failure of the unions' own efforts to boost membership and consolidate power. Indeed, Bramble demonstrates how the tactics employed by unions since the early 1980s may have paradoxically contributed to their decline.

Genres: Australia, Nonfiction

310 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2008

Reviews

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

An indispensable read, chronicling the history of organised working-class struggle in Australia, both to keep this fascinating and inspiring history alive, and to learn how to reawaken the struggle for the future.

[Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I confess that I'm new to the field of Australian Trade Unionism, it nonetheless has opened an exciting and interesting dynamic of relationships between employees/workers, managers, capital & capitalists, the state and the think tanks and strands of academia that consult, fight or compromise to work, wind and web the ongoing of our society.

The contents of the book is as follows:

Introduction:
Trade Unionism in the Postwar boom, 1945-67
-The postwar upsurge
-The 1950s retreat
-The working-class revival of the 1960s
-On the verge of breakthrough

Part 1 The flood tide, 1968-74
-The union upsurge, 1968-74
-The breakthrough, 1968-69
-The flood tide gathers, 1969-74
-Gains from the flood tie
-The Labor ascendancy, 1972-74
Conclusion

Part 2 The standoff, 1974-83
-Economic crisis and the halting of the flood tide, 1974-75
-The onset of economic crisis
-Business goes on the attack
-Union response to the crisis
-Unions and the Kerr Coup
Unionism in the Fraser years
-A period of retreat, 1976-78
-Union recovery, 1978-81
-The end of the Fraser Government and the emergence of the Accord

Part 3 The ebb tide, 1983-2007
-The ALP-ACTU Accord, 1983-90
-The early years of the Accord, 1983-86
-The rise of productivity trade-offs, 1987-90
-The position of trade unions by 1990
The 1990 federal election

Enterprise bargaining and a revived employer offensive, 1990-96
-A new phase in the productivity revolution
-Working class resistance
-The two faces of unionism
-The 1996 election and the end of the Accord

Unionism in a cold climate, 1996-2004
-Workers and their union in 1996
-Two early clashes
-The anti union offensive continues
-Union efforts to reverse the decline

WorkChoices and the defeat of the Howard Government
-WorkChoices
-The 'Your Rights at Work' campaign
The 2007 federal election

Results and prospects
-Australian unionism from flood to ebb tide:a summary of the argument
-The challenge facing the unions
-Prospects for revival

Tom Bramble has done a fine job in concise and well informed content, highlighting the struggles, contradictions, minor and major victories, the defeats and entrenchments. Highlighting how the great era of unionism and collective organisation were able to sustain and demand, the conditions and awards that were required for job recognition and satisfaction. Enabling the strong consideration that the working population and indeed unions, had to be recognised. Although it was never as clear cut as some would have you believe, there were always times of infighting, indecisiveness, political and or ideological squabbles, blackmail and of course corruptible elements and contracts. Nevertheless, as all of history does, the environment changed, and a new world would emerge from the 1970s and into the 1980s and beyond. Seeing to that any gains and safeguards would be mauled or removed. With much of it be repackaged in smaller entitlements, reduced hours and job security, the loss of the ability to strike, as well as union powers and organising abilities. Though as it gets quite concerning and dark, there is and will always be hope. Revival and hopefully, an intent to safeguard and indeed advance for more, is always on the table and within reach. Now, more than ever, is it needed. Especially with continual reform, and the unions themselves playing too safe.
A much needed and well received book. Whether my blathering did any justice, perhaps not, but it is nonetheless a testament to how Australian workers, when given the right tools, can make change and progress.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you don’t fight you lose!!!!!

If you’re going to read one book on unionism in Australia it’s got to be by the 🐐 Thomas Bramble. This book is inspiring, concise and filled with clear lessons. Trade Unionism connects the high point of trade union struggle in Australia to the present bleak situation and provides a perspective different to the mainstream. Bramble argues the Labor party and the union officialdom engineered neoliberalism and the defeat of strong, fighting unions in Australia.

Important points from the book include understanding the union officials as an ultimately pro-capitalist force. Union officials can range from left to right, the same way reformist politics can. Ultimately the political framework of the officials accepts the existence of capitalism whether they believe it needs to be improved or not.

Another important lesson is the limitation of being a trade union militant without a broader political framework, and without a sizeable organisation that can challenge the conservative arguments made by the union officials and the ALP in times of crisis. During the downturn in struggle in the 80s, and mounting economic crisis, the union officialdom came under pressure from the ruling class to put an end to union militancy for the sake of profitability. Without a radical political organisation that could reject these pro-capitalist arguments on a large scale and offer a different way forward, many union militants were convinced by the union officials to accept wage restraint and to stop striking. Many others were disillusioned and dropped out of politics.

Another key lesson is no amount of sucking up to the ALP is going to break the anti strike laws that they helped engineer. As in 1969, workers need to use their industrial power to fight and smash the anti strike laws. This ain’t just gonna come out of nowhere but building a radical alternative to the politics of the ALP and the union officials is absolutely necessary not just for workers to fight but to win.

[Kieran Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A critical account of Trade Unions in Australia, from their peak in the 70s, through the Accord, 90s, and the Howard years.

[Lucas Moctezuma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good analysis of industrial relations and unions from the 1940s and 1950s to just before the Fair Work Act was passed.