Patterns in Australian industrial conflict : 1973-1989

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1992

Authors

Sheen, Robyn Lindsay

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Abstract

This thesis originated from an observation I made jn 1985 when writing a paper on the 1984-85 British miners' strike. At the time, a dispute was taking place in Queensland between the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and the South-East Queensland Electricity Board (SEQEB). I was struck by some of the similarities between the two strikes. Foremost was the way in which the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher was framing laws in the aftermath of the miners' strike to combat what she saw as excessive union power. In Queensland, the Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Peterson was following suit with a range of legislation that was distinctly reminiscent of the British model. Based on that original observation, I was led to question the ways and extent to which law is a factor in dealing with industrial conflict in Australia. With a centralised collective bargaining system based in law, the conduct of industrial relations in Australia has been regulated by industrial tribunals since the late nineteenth century. Embedded in the various federal and state acts have been processes and penalties for dealing with industrial disputation and non-conformism to the system.

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Thesis (PhD)

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