Australia's unique approach to industrial dispute resolution prompts con tinuing analysis of the relative merits of compulsory arbitration and collective bargaining. This paper is a further contribution to that literature. A conceptual distinction between conciliation, arbitration and bargaining is developed, followed by an examination of the operational differences. Attention also is given to the impact arbitration has had in shaping the institutional and attitudinal environment within which collective bargaining will operate as it continues to emerge into prominence in Australia.
The aim is to show that many of the supposed advantages of non-voluntary arbitration turn out either to be present or achievable within the collective bargaining mode, or are, in fact, the sources of undesirable secondary conse quences. Apart from this, collective bargaining is seen as an inherently superior process for various reasons, including the role played by the third party neutral and the enhanced prospect for genuine resolution of disputes.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Beale, R.D., "The Australian Experience in Federal Sector Arbitration", Industrial Relations (Berkeley), October 1975, pp. 318-26.
2.
Brissenden, P.F., "Settlement of Labor Disputes in Australia, New Zealand and the United States", in H. Roberts and P. F. Brissenden (eds), The Challenge of Industrial Relations in the Pacific-Asian Countries, East-West Center Press, Honolulu, 1965, pp. 132-164.
3.
Cole, G.H., "Compulsory Arbitration in Australia: More Problems than Cures", Free Trade Union News (AFL-CIO), Vol. 27, No. 7, July 1972, pp. 4-5.
4.
Cole, R.T., "Collective Bargaining—Myth or Mess?" Rydge's , Vol. 43, September 1970, pp. 25-26, 28.
5.
Contini, Bruno, "Is Compulsory Arbitration Compatible with Bargaining?", Industrial Relations (Berkeley), Vol. 6, No. 1, October 1966 , pp. 111-114. Reply by Carl Stevens same issue, pp. 114-116.
6.
deVyver, F.T., "The Melbourne Building Industry Agreement", Journal of Industrial Relations, July 1970, pp. 166-181.
7.
deVyver, F.T., "Settling Plant Disputes—the Australian Experience", Labour Law Journal (Madras), October 1961, pp. 933-943.
8.
Ducker, J.P., "Strikes—Are Legal Sanctions the Answer?", Journal of Industrial Relations, March 1972, pp. 63-66.
9.
Dufty, N.F., "Workers' Opinions on Compulsory Arbitration", Economic Record, August 1959, pp. 263-364.
10.
Edelman, Murray and Fleming, R.W., The Politics of Wage-Price Decisions, University of Illinois Press, 1965.
11.
Feuille, P., "Final Offer Arbitration and the Chilling Effect", Industrial Relations (Berkeley), October 1975, pp. 302-310.
12.
Flanders, Allan, "Collective Bargaining: A Theoretical Analysis", British Journal of Industrial Relations, March 1968, pp. 1-26.
13.
Foenander, O.deR., Towards Industrial Peace in Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1937.
14.
Foenander, O.deR., Industrial Regulation in Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1941.
15.
Foenander, O.deR., "The Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration: A Brief Survey ", Quarterly Journal of Economics, August 1949, pp. 408-429.
16.
Foenander, O.deR., "The Achievement and Significance of Industrial Regulation in Australia ", International Labour Review, February 1957 , pp. 104-118.
17.
Foenander, O.deR., Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration in Australia, Sydney, Law Book Co., 1959.
18.
Foenander, O.deR., "Aspects of Australian Trade Unionism", International Labour Review, April 1961, pp. 322-348.
19.
Fowler, D.G., "The Future of Collective Bargaining in Australia", Australasian Manufacturer, April 13, 1968, pp. 4-6; and Journal of Industry (Adelaide), Vol. 36, May 1968, p. 37.
20.
Givry, J. de and Schregle, J., "The Role of the Third Party in the Settlement of Grievances", International Labour Review, April 1968, pp. 333-350.
21.
Gray, A.C., "Two Years of Conciliation Commissioners", Australian Quarterly, March 1950, pp. 51-61.
22.
Grunfeld, Cyril, "Australian Compulsory Arbitration: Appearance and Reality", British Journal of Industrial Relations, November 1971, pp. 330-352.
23.
Hancock, Keith, "Compulsory Arbitration Versus Collective Bargaining: Three Recent Assessments", Journal of Industrial Relations, April 1962, pp. 20-31.
24.
Higgins, H.B., "A New Province for Law and Order", (No. 1), Harvard Law Review, November 1915, pp. 13-39.
25.
Higgins, H.B., "A New Province for Law and Order", (No. 2), Harvard Law Review, January 1919, pp. 189-217.
26.
Higgins, H.B., "A New Province for Law and Order", (No. 3), Harvard Law Review, December 1920, pp. 105-136.
27.
Rosenberg, Wolf, "New Zealand: The Decline of Compulsory Arbitration", Outlook, December 1970, pp. 6-7.
28.
Sherman, Roger, "Is Compulsory Arbitration Compatible with Bargaining?", Industrial Relations (Berkeley), February 1968, pp. 183-185.
29.
Stevens, Carl M., "Is Compulsory Arbitration Compatible with Bargaining?", Industrial Relations (Berkeley), February 1966, pp. 38-52.
30.
Stevens, Carl M., "Is Compulsory Arbitration Compatible with Bargaining?", Industrial Relations (Berkeley), October 1966, pp. 111-116.
31.
Taylor, W.F., "Conciliation and Arbitration Down Under", Personnel Management, June 1970, pp. 26-31.
32.
Watson, V., "Possibilities and Limitations of Conciliation Procedures", Journal of Industrial Relations, March 1966, pp. 25-35.
33.
Woodward, A.E., "Industrial Relations in the '70s", Journal of Industrial Relations. July 1970, pp. 115-129.
34.
Wootten, J.H., "The Role of the Tribunals", Journal of Industrial Relations, July 1970, pp. 130-144.
35.
Yerbury, Dianne, "The Main Characteristics of Trade Union Law in the Australian Compulsory Arbitration Systems", in J. E. Isaac and G. W. Ford, Australian Labour Relations Readings, Sun Books, Melbourne1965, pp. 123-65.
36.
Yerbury, Dianne, and Isaac, J.E., "Recent Trends in Collective Bargaining in Australia", International Labour Review, May 1971, pp. 421-452.
