We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
EXPLAINING UNION MOBILISATION IN THE 1880S AND EARLY 1900S.
- Authors
Markey, Ray
- Abstract
The two great upsurges in Australian union mobilization occurred in the 1880's and the first decade of the 20th century. In both cases membership increased in scope and intensity: an expansion of the number of union organizations across a wider range of industries and occupations, as well as an increase of union density in industries and occupations where unions already existed. However, a major environmental difference between the two upsurges in mass unionism was the existence of a system of compulsory state arbitration, from 1901 in New South Wales and from 1904 in the Commonwealth. It has commonly been observed that the legislation was critical in assisting rapid trade union growth in the early 1900's. This article examines in more detail the factors common to both the 1880's and early 1900's which contributed to union mobilization, and reviews the evidence for a major role for the arbitration system in the latter period. It concludes that the statistics have been misused and misunderstood by those previously relying on them to argue that the arbitration system was critical for the expansion of unionism in the early 1900's. Union growth in the early 1900's seems to have had a similar basis to that in the 1880's: strong localized communities, perceived threats to working conditions, and a strong coordinating role by peak union bodies, together with a broad consensus providing a public place for unions. The role of the state was a critical factor in the early 1900's in constructing this public place for unions, even if the operation of the arbitration system itself was not a major direct contributor to union growth.
- Publication
Labour History, 2002, Issue 83, p19
- ISSN
0023-6942
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2307/27516881