Why Has Trade Union Membership Shrunk so Dramatically in the Past Twenty Five Years? Will This Continue?

Trade unions flourished in Australia throughout most of the 20th century, particularly in the 1920s and 1980s. Much of its popularity was due to the centralised conciliation and arbitration system which was introduced in 1904. The purpose of the conciliation and arbitration system was merely to settle disputes that extended beyond state borders. Trade unions then saw it as an opportunity to increase union members. Thus many unions are formed to which the conciliation and arbitration system gives unions a degree of stability and security. (S. Long, 1999, pp 1, 6) …