The release of the ALP’s industrial relations policy is another reminder of the erosion of employment rights and benefits, the degree to which that is attributable to the decline in union membership, and how Labor should approach its relationship with trade unions.
Launching his Securing Australian Jobs Plan, committing Labor to “Jobs, jobs, jobs”, Anthony Albanese ventured into commendable, if cautious specifics, tackling the vast, and growing, vulnerable end of the workforce spectrum: those in casual and contract work, where inequality and exploitation are rampant. His keynote speech in Brisbane last week came ahead of the Government moving to weaken workplace protections, ostensibly to alleviate Covid-caused business distress.
If the speed and hysteria of the reaction to Albanese’s policy is any measure, then Labor is on a winner.
Attorney General (and Industrial Relations Minister) Christian Porter instantly put a $20 billion price tag on Labor’s proposals.
The Australian Industry Group said Labor’s plans would “reduce jobs and investment”, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it would “kill off casual employment”, and the Business Council of Australia said the ALP should support the government’s industrial relations overhaul. Right!
It was an interesting contrast to the muted Government response to Labor’s “keynote” commitment on childcare a few months back. Cynics might say that’s because most of the corporatised childcare operators will be co-beneficiaries of the proposed extra spending.
On workplace conditions, though, commentators are saying the Government is facing a political threat comparable to the “Your Rights At Work” campaign unleashed against John Howard’s WorkChoices legislation, credited with playing a huge part in Howard losing the 2007 election. History, though, can be prone to exaggeration. While “Your Rights at Work” was described, by some, as one of the biggest working class mobilisations in Australian history, the wear-out factor of 11 years in office might also have had a little to do with Howard’s demise.
Among others, Peter Hartcher, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, suggested “IR” was a “knife fight Morrison can’t win”. One would hope so, but sticking up for workers and, by implication, unions, remains a challenge for Labor that is not without political peril. However, if Labor doesn’t stick up for workers, who does, and for what other purpose does the Labor Party exist?
Significantly, on Tuesday, the government appeared to be backing off from its proposed Covid-relief dilution of workers’ conditions.
In the past 44 years, union membership has dropped from 50 per cent of the workforce (in 1977) to 14.3 per cent in 2020. The biggest dive in membership was in the 10 years from 1992 to 2002, falling from 40 per cent to less than 25 per cent of the workforce (Australian Bureau of Statistics).
The long-term decline is partly attributable to the “casualisation” of the workforce, where those most in need of protection are least able, and least likely, to join a union. They are isolated by their own perception of being “self-employed” and often move from one workplace to another.
Rightly, these are the very people Albanese has focused on: those whose income security is entirely at the whim of their employer; who accumulate no entitlements to leave (maternity/parental, holidays, long service, sick etc.), or redundancy payments, and can be terminated on minimal notice.
I do wish he’d stop using Uber drivers as the example though; I suspect many of us have more relatable examples even in our own families. And as for the constant references to the “gig economy”, I still think of a gig as an engagement secured by a band to play at a suburban RSL.
It might behove Labor, and the unions, to make the point, incessantly, that the ABS report that recorded the membership decline also noted that workers in unionised roles earn $1,450 a week on a median basis: $350 more than non-unionised workers.
As the Australian Council of Trade Unions ramps up its anti-government campaign, we’ll see how vulnerable the ALP is to the age-worn conservative zinger that Labor is captive to the trade unions – an attempt to demonise the relationship.
While the behaviour of some unions and their officials warrants the negative stereotyping, the record of corporations and their chief executives somehow doesn’t tarnish the conservative parties they so generously support.
Nothing much happens in the Labor Party, particularly at an organisational level, at conferences and the preselection of candidates, without disproportionate influence from unions. There’s a legitimate contract in place: that Labor is there to represent the union movement, and the union movement’s obligation and interest is to support the Labor Party.
And then there’s the money: the affiliation fees that unions pay to the ALP, the donations, and the millions they spend campaigning on the ALP’s behalf at election time.
In the 44 years during which union membership plummeted, Labor has had 10 parliamentary leaders. Three came from the trade union movement: Bob Hawke, Simon Crean and Bill Shorten. The most dramatic dip in union membership, between 1992 and 2002, is often credited to changes introduced by Hawke, the only union leader in modern history to become Prime Minister.
Inarguably, many were necessary to ensure Australia’s competitiveness in an increasingly global market. Not everyone will agree that the lost jobs and lost industries were worth it but the consensus is that it had to be done. Like many tough decisions in Australia’s history, these were made by Labor.
Meantime, in 2021, the gap between rich and poor will widen, real wage growth will remain snail-paced, and “temporary” employees will continue to be left unacceptably insecure.
Labor must never apologise for who it speaks for, or be intimidated by the Big End of Town, let alone the Attorney General. Albanese has touched a nerve and should be encouraged by the aghast response.
In the US, where union membership is only 10 per cent of the workforce, President Joe Biden reportedly refers to himself as “blue-collar Joe”, and has pledged to be the “strongest labor president you have ever had”, saying unions will have greater power under his administration. While campaigning, Biden told corporate chiefs: “I want you to know I’m a union guy.” He said: “They just nodded. They understand. It’s not anti-business. It’s about economic growth.”
Yes, Joe, it’s about that, too.
Richard Whitington was a member of Gough Whitlam’s staff from 1974 to 1977. He’d been a journalist, briefly, and a political publicist, later spending 25 years in marketing and corporate communications, initially with the ALP’s advertising agency in the late 70s and early 80s. He finished his career with 20 years in executive recruitment and retired in 2019 to do some freelance writing. Website: richardwhitington.com
Comments
25 responses to “Albanese has touched a nerve on IR policy and should be encouraged by the response”
Qualifying at 75 as a senior citizen, and seeing out my working life as a permanent part-time employee stocking shelves at night for one of our major supermarket chains, I would like to buy into this discussion.
Are unions still relevant? I think they are. They do argue for pay and conditions that benefit employees, and they do offer at least some protection when there is a dispute between an employee and management.
Could they do more? Of course they could. But the world today is what it is, and you have to go with what you have.
As for the ALP, for years I have been disappointed. They seem incapable of gaining any traction nationally, and internationally they are an utter failure. As a current example, who do they think will lose the most with all this anti-China carry-on? It will be Australian workers, that’s who. I do not belong to the ALP, and only offer them reluctant support because the alternative is so appalling.
But, I do belong to a union and pay their not inconsiderable dues. Perhaps I’m just an old leftie, but I still believe that a world with workers unions is a better place than a world without them.
I agree and also that the freedom to organise collectively needs defending. The national arrangement in the ACTU is also very helpful, compared to other countries and, over the years, decent working conditions did extend to newly-arrived migrants and women. The Teachers’ Union used to be moribund about female workers, as I found, but there are elections of union leaders, and money is spent on defending workers in the courts. I also remember Jack Mundey as a shining light in broadening union worries.
As for guaranteed or basic incomes, not even the kindest government will spend much because that is giving already-taxed state money to people able and willing to work. Overseas experiments show this, and Tcherneva and Kelton of MMT argue it clearly. Full Employment with union backing is their and my preference. It is also readily understood, and does not “give up” on provision of major public services like health and education.
I get tired of the hypocritical “join a union” moralising emanating from the Labour Left these days. Whats the point of joining a union if our wonderful “comrades” in the ALP have drafted legislation almost completely banning strike action and EBA legislation with loopholes you can drive a dump truck through.
Does the author have John Setka in mind when he writes the following?
“While the behaviour of some unions and their officials warrants the negative stereotyping, ”
Because John Setka is pretty much the one union official to call out the ALP’s duplicity and surprise, surprise what are the ALP and their media allies doing to him?
The ALP and the author of this piece don’t want strong unions fighting for workers pay and conditions. They want workers to be in neutered, non threatening to the bosses unions “willing to co-operate with business” (collaborate) like Bill Shorten and Julia Gillard’s Australian Workers Union that sign their own members up to below award pay deals but hey, how good are they at virtue-signalling?
The attack on Setka by Albanese and McManus was a disgrace. Solidarity forever indeed.
G’day Skilts. I gave the Setka business a mention in a post I wrote about the ALP State Conference in Perth — Pearls and Irritations 30 August 2019. John Howard lost the election and his seat on the industrial relations issue. The Liberals are being more careful with this package and it needs a measured team effort from Labor. Should not be too difficult to organise. There can be general criticism from Albanese backed by specific analysis from other MPs. There’s plenty of talent in the Labor caucus, which is why I am relatively confident about their chances but they do need to work as a team.
Good Jerry. I will go back and read it. I dont share your confidence but do share your hopes. I regard Sluggo of the Shire IR package as a sop to his business mates. Will die in the Senate. Dont think Sally could organize a blue in a Port Kembla pub. She is no Greg Combet. I think Sluggo is in bigger trouble with all decent Australians over his relaxed and quiescent view of sexual assault against women.
I don’t get the impression the Opposition is working as a team. There is still time. I doubt if there will be an early election. To go early is always risky. Like sending the other team in to bat. You can never be all that certain about how the wicket is going to play. Teamwork is undoubtedly the strength of Labor in WA where the election is three weeks away.
One thing for sure is that Sluggo will not go early while the Liberal rape scandal envelops him. I agree that batting first is a risky call. I was a young idealistic opener in a church comp in Melbourne. Modelled myself on Keith Stackpole. Went after everything from the first ball. My Dad was Salvation Army brought me up to walk and not wait for the ump. My devoutness cost me in the batting averages. Turns out none of the other christians walked. Possibly a brilliant career nipped in the bud by Dad’s dogma. Lost my faith in the churches and Dads cricket advice by the age of 16.
I watched Keith Stackpole hit a quick 50 at the WACA. It was just what the doctor ordered. Nice fella too. One of my favourite batsmen was Norm O’Neil who moved to Perth when he was still playing first grade. He used to play a sort of cover drive off the back foot that gave the bowlers a chance but was awesome when it connected.
It should be fairly straightforward for Albanese. If the Coalition are such firm believers in the benefits of casual and contract work to Australia and the workforce in general, and actually believe that Albanese’s proposals would cost $20 billion, they ought lead by example and go on short term contracts themselves. No sick pay, no rec leave, and if a member spent three months in the Philippines, that would be unpaid.
Agree with everything mate. Perhaps you might tone down the last demand to allow the battlers on the aged pension to continue enjoying the largesse and ungrudging generosity of the long suffering tax payer, whilst seeing out their last hard bitter years, under swaying palms and gentle zephyrs in the Philippines?.
Hello Richard: NOT an attack-labor-from-the-left article? How refreshing! Since the comrades got back into the action at the start of the year the articles have cranked up. My favorite warriors are the formidable Wong, Keneally and Gallagher. They’re awesome. I’m traditional ALP: first voted 1972. The attack formula is two pronged: idealism deficiency and/or bad person leader. Shorten mainly copped the bad person. With Albanese they’re working the sell out on idealism stuff. What else could you expect from a hungry kid from public housing? Only people who found out at university the injustice of society can really claim idealism. The rest of us are just bitter. Idealism? In real-world reality there is a ceiling on it: after that your enemies crucify you. Labor has to be more pragmatic. Like, get into government first.
For the record champ i worked in a steelworks and drove a train. And Tony Albanese is still, believe me, a gold plated sell out. Nice try.
Hello Skilts: I am now just a silly old pensioner. Back in the 50’s I was a migrant kid from a large family with not much money. If it was not for the union struggle for pay and conditions, my father, a low paid factory worker with not much English, would have been used, abused and exploited just like he had been back in much beloved Italia. I know about Martin. To be fair, he was helpful getting funding for local community groups. My point is simple: we are in election mode; it is us or them; if we attack us the winner with be them.
Apologies for the swing and a miss. I agree we have to beat them. For the record i worked as an organiser under the great Nando Lelli. I am a fully paid up member of the silly old pensioners union. All the best.
Hello Skilts: All Good! Way back then, I played street football with kids who always stood their ground (maybe like you). There was only one rule: don’t cry, get even. Sometimes we would form a team to play against a rival street. We would then be teammates.
This comment may get in. Thanks for a decent piece on unions. If labor unions cannot organise (e.g. not under Stalin) we lose another of democracy’s safeguards. Numbers? France has long had low membership but huge support for unions. Today we have fabulous leaders in McManus and O’Neill with backing from other unions (not all) and the population. The ACTU is not very close to the ALP, and I’d remind the nay-sayers that the ACTU is feminist, anti-racist – some are even bird watchers. The LNP is out to destroy unions, and, to the wretched idea of a guaranteed income, anyone who reads MMT knows it’s disastrous. Decent work, with living wages and fair conditions give so many, including migrants and asylum seekers, places to meet others and further improve workplaces. Funnily, UK Johnson’s government has increased minimum wages, on the rather cynical grounds that this saves the Treasury and makes bosses pay. Porter et al can’t get his head around anything like that even.
Hello Jocelyn: I do not agree the 14% statistic is a real measure of union importance. The percentage of the workforce whose pay and conditions, whose minimum wage, whose occupational heath and safety, results from union involvement is the real measure. At the sausage thought factories I worked, membership was about 20%, the EBA’s negotiated by the unions set pay and conditions for almost everybody. Workers turning up to fair Works without union representation will quickly find out it is only as fair as how much they can afford to pay an industrial lawyer. Brave souls who self-represent face a solicitor, specialist in industrial law, a barrister and a toxin from HR as well as a few aids carrying massive documents. It’s a ritualistic
killing. Sally and Michelle are owed by more people than is realised.
… the connection to Stalin ?
Almost certain to be Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu by May this year.
Made my day mate.
The current ACTU apart from its admirable feminism, anti-racism (really there is no sinophobia in the leadership?) and fab leadership leads the smallest percentage of the Australian workforce in unions since Federation. Given your rhetorical wave of the calloused hand away from Guaranteed Income, what is the strategy of a joke organization that represents 13% of its constituency? What on earth has MMT got to do with Guaranteed Income wretched or otherwise? So the new model is the French trade unions with 11% of the working class members and a big percentage of the pathetically small 2.7 million membership are retirees. Some people have sympathy for Australian unions in the way we do for a dying old relative. This is the sympathy for the terminally ill. I know life is fundamentally a mystery but perhaps an attempt at a rational argument might help the less gifted of us understand your point? As for Stalin, trade union membership under the great man was a great deal more significant and effective than the lovely people steering the sinking ship of the ACTU. The main danger to the trade union movement doesnt come from the incompetent clowns in the LNP. It comes from and always has from the opportunist sell outs in the ALP and the ACTU. Yes Albo looking at you son.
Another policy launch, another phony “IR” war and another lost election. Hartcher must be on some very powerful hallucinogen. Only 14% of workers are members. That figure is propped up by the 33% of school teachers in the education unions. Which by the way are covered by State Awards and wont be directly affected by the vicious Hartcher knife fight. Blood running down the red leather of the Senate. I dont have the time (life is so short) to recount the disaster of Kelty and the CIA influence in the Australian unions which has inevitably rendered the movement into a moribund travesty of a workers movement. Suffice to say if Albanese was a serious Labor leader, which he is not, had an ounce of vision, which he doesnt and is of average intelligence, which is isnt, he would be advocating a Guaranteed Income system as the old Harvester Judgement wages system is now obsolete. And so is Labor.
I once asked a union if I could join even though I was self employed. They said no. The decline in membership is partly the unions own doing.
Agree entirely. I proposed to the appalling Martin Ferguson that his union members on the South Coast as cleaners form co-operatives to fight off the casualisation replied ‘ Mate we arent going to become bosses.” I cleaned up his reply to me phonetically, grammatically and morally. This is a family comments section. Fergo what a champ. Now working for the mining industry i believe.
My observation of the CPSU, Tas Branch performance in response to a very serious bullying complaint left me with the very distinct impression its leadership were far more concerned with the wellbeing of the .gov organisation than that of their fee paying member. I note the increasingly corpulent leaders endless failure to actually do anything about bullying beyond jawbone the subject and make the observation that the feild is wide open for some enterprising lawyers and related professionals to offer an insurance policy to workers that provides them with “free” competent support should they find themselves in the sort of workplace strife unions used to be able to sort out. Happy to expand on the concept for anyone interested.
If the piss weak performance I witnessed was typical then it is little wonder workers have given up on unions.
I say this as a former union shop steward. I now work as a casual farm hand and see zero evidence of a union in that industry. Fortunately I have decent employers.