ABSTRACT

This book examines countries that have tried, with varying degrees of success, to use legislative strategies to encourage and support collective bargaining, including Australia’s Fair Work Act. It is the first major study of the operation and impact of the new collective bargaining framework introduced under the Fair Work Act, combining theoretical and practical perspectives. In addition, a number of comparative pieces provide rich insights into the Australian legislation’s adaptation of concepts from overseas collective bargaining systems – including good faith bargaining, and majority employee support as the basis for establishing bargaining rights. Contributors to this volume are all leading labor law, industrial relations, and human resource management scholars from Australia, and from Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.

chapter 2|25 pages

Collective Bargaining and Agreement Making in Australia

Evolution of the Legislative Framework and Practice

chapter 5|24 pages

The Mechanics of Agreement Making under the Fair Work Act 2009

Promoting Good Faith Bargaining and Genuine Agreement

chapter 7|24 pages

Getting to the Table?

Fair Work, Unions and Collective Bargaining

chapter 9|21 pages

Government as Industrial Relations Role Model

Promotion of Collective Bargaining and Workplace Cooperation by Non-Legislative Mechanisms

chapter 11|21 pages

Recognition in Respect of Bargaining in the United Kingdom

Collective Autonomy and Political

chapter 13|20 pages

After EFCA, what next for Unions?

The Future of Labour Law Reform and of Collective Bargaining in the United States