Trade unionism in Australia
Foenander, Orwell De R.
Trade unionism in Australia - Sydney Law Book Co. of Australia 1962 - 215 p.
There is no doubt that, at the present time in Australia, workers are operating under far more acceptable terms and conditions of employment, and employment is available in much greater volume for qualified persons who seek it, than in the early days of the century. All the evidence goes to show that the betterment has not been achieved, all said and done, at the expense of the legitimate deserts of management, or to the prejudice of the popular welfare. For this desirable development a generous portion in the allocation of credit can justly be claimed by the trade unions, without in any way detracting from the shares that rightly belong, respectively, to enterprise and the governmental instrumentalities (particularly those responsible for the direct administration of the industrial law).
Whether the unions could have, or should have, done more bring about the increased productivity that would have enabled the industrial tribunals to grant higher standards in wage payments and conditions of employment, is a matter upon which a unanimity of opinion is not to be expected. Very probably it involves a question to which no conclusive answer is possible. At any rate, the workers, in so far as their material interests are concerned, have, in spite of the heavy demands made on their industrial freedom that unionisation has involved, little reason to deny that their organisations have thoroughly justified their existence. The responses may be different, however, on the question whether they are content with the influence that, as ordinary members, they have in the decisions of their union and the transaction of its
Other sections in the community may take the view that the unions are given, over much, to the pragmatic approach in the determination of their policies, to the neglect of the social obliga tions and responsibilities that rationally can be said to attach to associations, or groups, in which are resident the kind and magni tude of power now exercised by the unions, and that, if the unions persist in their failures, closer control and the performance of more ample duties than those to which they are now subjected by law will have to be imposed on them.
Trade - unions
331.88 Foe
Trade unionism in Australia - Sydney Law Book Co. of Australia 1962 - 215 p.
There is no doubt that, at the present time in Australia, workers are operating under far more acceptable terms and conditions of employment, and employment is available in much greater volume for qualified persons who seek it, than in the early days of the century. All the evidence goes to show that the betterment has not been achieved, all said and done, at the expense of the legitimate deserts of management, or to the prejudice of the popular welfare. For this desirable development a generous portion in the allocation of credit can justly be claimed by the trade unions, without in any way detracting from the shares that rightly belong, respectively, to enterprise and the governmental instrumentalities (particularly those responsible for the direct administration of the industrial law).
Whether the unions could have, or should have, done more bring about the increased productivity that would have enabled the industrial tribunals to grant higher standards in wage payments and conditions of employment, is a matter upon which a unanimity of opinion is not to be expected. Very probably it involves a question to which no conclusive answer is possible. At any rate, the workers, in so far as their material interests are concerned, have, in spite of the heavy demands made on their industrial freedom that unionisation has involved, little reason to deny that their organisations have thoroughly justified their existence. The responses may be different, however, on the question whether they are content with the influence that, as ordinary members, they have in the decisions of their union and the transaction of its
Other sections in the community may take the view that the unions are given, over much, to the pragmatic approach in the determination of their policies, to the neglect of the social obliga tions and responsibilities that rationally can be said to attach to associations, or groups, in which are resident the kind and magni tude of power now exercised by the unions, and that, if the unions persist in their failures, closer control and the performance of more ample duties than those to which they are now subjected by law will have to be imposed on them.
Trade - unions
331.88 Foe