UNIONS

 

UNIONS

It has almost become du rigueur to knock unions in this country over the last thirty years or so. Adjectives such as irrelevant, anachronistic and negative are frequently scaffolded around the noun ‘union’ as if there was some magnetic force pulling them all together.

Yet the need for unions in 2017 is just as great as when they were initiated here in Oz in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Unions, in fact, pre-date even political parties in our fair land but there seem to be increasing numbers of punters who choose to side-step the very real benefits of becoming active union members…..and it’s starting to show.

One only has to look at the recent winding back of penalty rates, the virtual stagnation of wage levels for millions of compadres over the last decade and a significant denudation in associated working conditions to realise that all is not well in the lucky country. All of these ‘developments’ have occurred- or are occurring- as the influence of unions further wanes.

However, looking at about 150 years of industrial history, the report card for unions in Australia is compelling. The establishment of the eight hour working day (1855), workers’ compensation (1902), ‘awards’ (1908), sick leave (1920), annual leave (1936), penalty rates (1947), long service leave (1951), equal pay for women (1969), unfair dismissal (1971), meal/ rest breaks (1973), superannuation (1986), collective bargaining (1996), maternity leave (2011) and redundancy pay (2011) have all been achieved through union advocacy, negotiation and action. You and I take many of these things for granted yet they just weren’t pulled out of a magician’s or employer’s top hat.

Neoliberalism thrives when labour is not organised and when those collectives that do exist are painted as thugs and gangsters. It’s pretty significant that the recent royal commission into union corruption has resulted in no criminal convictions. Strange that……… and at a cost of $46 million, you’d think that even waving around one scalp would be possible. But NO! Fuck all, in fact.

I have to admit that in the education sector where I have some (albeit reducing) knowledge, school workplaces are fast becoming toxic environments where bullying, workloads, adverse working conditions and WHS issues are all on the increase.

The problem with the industrial scene at the moment lies in who helps to look after- and start to address- all these things. The fact that unions, for whatever reason, don’t seem to be a part of that equation in many people’s eyes is confounding.