'Brave New Work Place' by David Peetz
'Brave New Workplace - How Individual Contracts Are Changing Our Jobs'by David Peetz
David Peetz could have sub-titled this book "How individual contracts have been used to de-unionise Australian workplaces, " since, as he points out, this is the real purpose for which they have been used .
AWAs and other forms of individual contracts have been introduced by conservative Governments here and in New Zealand and utilised by employers simply to break the nexus between workers and their unions.
Individual agreements are not particularly individualised, in fact, and do not improve productivity. All they do is by pass unions and attempt to convince employees that collective action is no longer possible and union membership unnecessary.
David Peetz, Professor of Industrial Relations at Queensland’s Griffith is one of Australia’s foremost academics with a “hands on” interest the future of workers and their organisations. His latest book draws together not only academic research but practical studies of unions and their workplace organisation. In part, the book draws on the findings of a major survey of union officials and delegates, including those of the ASU, conducted recently.
David’s work is of the highest practical value for unions, officials and delegates as we struggle to face down the Howard Government’s drive to so-called individualism in the workplace. David outlines not just the seriousness of the problem, but outlines strategies to tap into the support for collectivity latent in very workplace.
Another must read for the serious unionist. Recommended for full-time union officials and delegates who will recognise the experiences David describes.
Reviewed by Keith Harvey ««««
