Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    The Impact of Union Amalgamation on Membership: An Australian Case Study

    245999_245999.pdf (294.3Kb)
    Access Status
    Open access
    Authors
    Oliver, Bobbie
    Date
    2016
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Oliver, B. 2016. The Impact of Union Amalgamation on Membership: An Australian Case Study. Sage Open. 6 (3).
    Source Title
    Sage Open
    DOI
    10.1177/2158244016658086
    School
    School of Media, Culture and Creative Arts
    Remarks

    This open access article is distributed under the Creative Commons license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/2737
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    In 1980s and 1990s, Australian trade unions tried to combat declining influence and membership numbers by amalgamating with other unions in the same or related industries. Much has been written on union mergers, but little on how these affect the membership. This article aims to contribute to the literature of the impact of mergers and amalgamations on members but studying just one union, The West Australian Locomotive Engine Drivers, Firemen’s and Cleaners Union (LEDU; 1898-1999). In 1993, the three federal railway unions—the Australian Railways Union (ARU), the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Employees (AFULE), and the National Union of Railworkers (NUR), and one bus and tram union, the Australian Tramway & Motor Omnibus Employees Association (ATM)—amalgamated to become the Australian Rail Tram and Bus Industry Union (RTBU). The LEDU reluctantly joined the RTBU in 1999. This article examines rank and file reaction to the initial proposals and ultimately to becoming part of a larger union, covering workers with many different interests. The article concludes that, irrespective of whether or not amalgamation was inevitable, given the circumstances in Western Australia at the time, its impact upon the rank and file membership was devastating.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • The impact of privatisation on union membership and density: A Western Australian case study
      Oliver, Bobbie (2014)
      Falling membership numbers and declining union density are issues of concern for many Australian unions. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that between 2005 and 2008, trade union membership declined from 22.4% ...
    • The locomotive enginemen: a history of the West Australian Locomotive Engine Drivers', Firemen's and Cleaners' Union
      Oliver, Bobbie (2016)
      This book explores the social phenomenon of the rise and decline of trade unionism in 20th century Australia through the history of one particular union, Western Australia’s longest running industrial union (1898–1999), ...
    • Managerial support: Renewing the role of managers amidst declining union support for employees
      Travaglione, A.; Scott-Ladd, Brenda; Hancock, Justin; Chang, Joshua (2017)
      This study investigates how Australian employees perceive managerial support and the influence of union membership on their perception of managerial support using data from 4124 employed persons in Australia across a range ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.