Are Australian trade unions in terminal decline?

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Are Australian trade unions in terminal decline?


At 25.7 per cent of the workforce, membership of the Australian trade union movement is now at its lowest level since its official recording began, and this decline does not appear to be showing any signs of relent. Unfortunately, Australian trade unions are in terminal decline. The reasons for this are; a structural shift in the labour market, macroeconomic variables, a shift in institutional and organisational ideologies towards unions, ineffective trade unions, and economic rationalisation within Australian companies. While trade unions have tried to counter this trend through means of amalgamations and rationalisation, recruitment of members and female representation in unions, their attempts have been relatively fruitless.

The changing occupational and industrial structure of the Australian workforce has led to a decline in Australian trade unions. There has been a decline in manufacturing indust...