Economics - Theses

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Author: Benson, John W × End date: 1989 × Start date: 1980 × Type: PhD thesis ×

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    Shop stewards in the Latrobe Valley
    Benson, John W ( 1988)
    In Australia, industrial relations research has focused almost exclusively on the major industrial relations institutions and their role in the determination of the rules of the workplace. Local workplace industrial relations and the interaction between worker and representatives and enterprise management has been a neglected area of research. This study attempts to rectify this situation. By focusing attention on the workplace a number of important questions are raised that have not been systematically addressed in Australian industrial relations research. In particular, what, if any, is the role of shop stewards in a centralised system dominated by unions, employers and tribunals organised on a state and national basis? If there is a role for shop stewards, how does this role manifest itself in terms of the stewards’ relationships with members, fellow shop stewards, union officials and management? Finally, what factors explain variations in role perceptions, and how does the adoption of a particular role affect the behaviour of shop stewards? This thesis will address these questions. It examines in some detail the behaviour of shop stewards in the coal winning and power generation industry in the Latrobe Valley. After reviewing the existing literature, a model of shop steward behaviour is proposed based on the stewards' leadership style and orientation to unionism. This model, in conjunction with union and employment variables, is then used to analyse differences in levels of bargaining, shop-f1oor organisation and industrial action as well as stewards' relationships with members, management and their union. By utilizing a survey questionnaire, interviews and two case studies the thesis demonstrates that the shop stewards of the Latrobe Valley play a significant role in workplace industrial relations. Further, it is argued that variations in stewards' behaviour are, at least in part, explained by the stewards' orientation to unionism, their leadership style, the type of union they belong to and their place of work.