Unions and Arbitration: A Dependent Relationahip? Evidence from Historical Case Studies

The analysis of Australian union behaviour, growth and structure has centred on the relationship between unions and arbitration. To varying degrees it has been assumed that Australian unions are, through their involvement and legal incorporation into the arbitral system of labour market regulation and dispute settlement, dependent on arbitration for the supply of resources critical to their functions. The nature and extent of this so called dependency relationship has, however, remained empirically unexplored.