Why Does the Trade Union Movement, Overall, in Australia, Support the Labor Party
Why does the trade union movement, overall, in Australia, support the Labor Party?
INR210 - Assignment 1
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Introduction
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the trade union movement have ties which date back to the late 1800’s. Historically, the union-party relationship in Australia has been close. Indeed, through much of the twentieth century, the industrial and political organisations were commonly referred to as the “two wings of the labour movement” (Griffin, Nyland & O’Rourke, 2004, p. 89).
The ALP was formed out of trade union activity during this period and the realisation that without direct political representation in parliament, and a means by which employers could be forced to recognise union organisations, they were ill-equipped to defeat the collective power of the employers (Bray, Waring, & Cooper, 2009 p. 205).
In the years since, the two organisations have continued to advocate the rights of working Australians through legislation, extensive lobbying and agreement on policy matters.
However, it must be recognised that the two parties are separate identities and the information contained below will highlight the relationship that the organisations have maintained since establishment and provide an overview of the direction of the relationship in the current political climate and in view of the ideological connection that they both have to represent the working class.
This paper will also outline the direct actions that the union movement has taken over time to lobby government for change, or lobby the public for the change in government in matters such as the Work Choices legislation whereby an extensive and calculated campaign was a direct cause in change of government from the non union sensitive coalition government to the Rudd Labor government in 2007.
The paper will also look directly at the behaviour of union
INR210 - Assignment 1
by
Introduction
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the trade union movement have ties which date back to the late 1800’s. Historically, the union-party relationship in Australia has been close. Indeed, through much of the twentieth century, the industrial and political organisations were commonly referred to as the “two wings of the labour movement” (Griffin, Nyland & O’Rourke, 2004, p. 89).
The ALP was formed out of trade union activity during this period and the realisation that without direct political representation in parliament, and a means by which employers could be forced to recognise union organisations, they were ill-equipped to defeat the collective power of the employers (Bray, Waring, & Cooper, 2009 p. 205).
In the years since, the two organisations have continued to advocate the rights of working Australians through legislation, extensive lobbying and agreement on policy matters.
However, it must be recognised that the two parties are separate identities and the information contained below will highlight the relationship that the organisations have maintained since establishment and provide an overview of the direction of the relationship in the current political climate and in view of the ideological connection that they both have to represent the working class.
This paper will also outline the direct actions that the union movement has taken over time to lobby government for change, or lobby the public for the change in government in matters such as the Work Choices legislation whereby an extensive and calculated campaign was a direct cause in change of government from the non union sensitive coalition government to the Rudd Labor government in 2007.
The paper will also look directly at the behaviour of union
References: Dow, G., & Lafferty, G. (2007). Decades of Disillusion: Reappraising the ALP-ACTU Accord 1983-1996. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 53(4), 552-568. Griffin, G., Nyland, C., & O’Rourke, A. (2004) Trade Unions, the Australian Labor Party and the Trade-Labour Rights Debate. Australian Journal of Political Science 39(1) 89-107. doi 10.1080/1036114042000205669 Irving, T Leigh, A., How Do unionists Vote? Estimating the Casual Impact of Union Membership on Voting Behaviour from 1966 to 2004. Australian Journal of Political Science 41(4) 537-552. doi 10.1080/10361140600959767 Livingstone, C., (2003) Mighell, D., (2010). It’s time to say bye to the ALP. ETU. Retrieved from http://www.etu.asn.au/newsandevents/news/its-time-to-say-bye-to-the-alp Muir, K Patmore G,. (1996). Australian Labor Historiography: The influence of the USA. Labor History 37(4), 520-534 Schneiders, B., (2010) Sinnamon, J., (2008). Iemma defies Labor conference, unions and public in push to privatise NSW electricity. Can do Better. Retrieved from http://candobetter.net/node/472