327-332 Industrial Relations Policy

Coordinator:

Pre/Corequisite/s:

Timetable:

Contact:

Objectives:

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• define circumstances in which governments should intervene in the operation of markets and private relations between individuals, groups and classes;

• evaluate critically competing theories of the employment relationship and industrial relations;

• define and analyse the policy agendas of the major players in Australian industrial relations, and how they have influenced industrial relations policy reform; and

• analyse specific aspects of industrial relations and labour markets and describe when and why government will regulate these in particular.

Content:

This course will consider why industrial relations and employment relations have specific and unique qualities which require government intervention for the purpose of ensuring labour market and industrial relations outcomes which are more efficient, more equitable, and protect citizens' rights. Topics will include: rationales for government intervention, theories of the policy process; policy making in Australia, theories of the policy process; policy making in Australia, theories of industrial and employment relations; wage bargaining; flexibility and deregulation; unions, productivity and public policy, industrial relations reform, enterprise bargaining, employment security, discrimination and affirmative action, occupational health and safety regulation and internationalisation and industrial relations policy.

Assessment: