Industrial Disputes

Is it just me or have industrial disputes been more prevalent over the last few months?

Looking at current ABS statistics… 53 disputes were recorded for the June 2011 quarter, some 16 more than March quarter; the [current] number of employees involved in industrial disputes was 14,600, however was 11,100 in the March quarter and the amount of working days lost in June 2011 was 66,200 as apposed to 19,700 days.

We’ve seen baggage handlers, catering staff, LAME’s and Pilots at Qantas; Waterside Workers at Patrick’s; Customs Officers, Teachers and other Public Sector employees rally recently over issues surrounding their pay and conditions…and depending on who you listen to, this action has the potential to continue for some time yet!

Now of course disputes have been a part of our industrial landscape since the great ‘Shearers Strike’ of 1891… and for those of us who’ll recall more recent unrest, including the Pilots Dispute of 1989 and/or the Waterfront Dispute of 1998.

Although disputes arise between the company and its employees (generally represented by their Unions) it’s not only the company or the unions that are affected by such action… as is the case with the current airline/customs disputes, it’s the travelling public that feel the effects! And it’s interesting that this action occurs during the busy holiday period..

The purist will say that good disputes resolution procedures will go a long way to averting issues becoming protracted and adversely impacting on the business and its employees, but perhaps good and robust communication practices will too support resolving issues as they arise! And whilst I realise that industrial disputes are not always easy to resolve, I am not necessarily convinced that the practice of strikes and poor public relations will ever help to maintain good and harmonious industrial [workplace] relations!