Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should have developed an informed and critical understanding of the functions and operations of the Australian and Victorian industrial relations systems as applied to the education industry, especially school teaching. Students should be able to identify some of the theoretical bases to industrial relations systems, the parties and processes, including collective bargaining and arbitration, as well as the public issues in industrial relations reform, particularly in schools and other education institutions. Students should also be able to critically evaluate academic writing on the subject from a variety of social science journals, and from these and other sources, prepare a major commentary or discussion paper on an area or issue of industrial relations (or employment policy) which affects them directly as education workers. Students will not have an opportunity in this subject to develop personal skills in negotiation and advocacy practice. Finally, students should exit this subject with a `genuine enthusiasm' for industrial relations in education that should enable them to continue its study (privately) and if appropriate, to apply their understanding of contemporary trends to their workplace as representatives of employees, managers or employers.
Synopsis This subject will introduce recent and contemporary developments and issues in relations between organised teachers' groups and their employers. It is set within an Australian context, but particular attention will be paid to Victorian developments, such as union fragmentation, union government, the systems of industrial relations for teachers, the Employment Relations Act, 1992, enterprise bargaining and award restructuring. Other topics will include the history of teacher unionism; teacher conflict and disputes; women in teacher's organisations; industrial relations in non-government schools and higher education; industrial law and employment and federal awards for teachers. A background or training in industrial relations is not required and participation from students interested in sociology, politics, administration and policy studies or history of education is welcomed.
Assessment Individual (or small team) assignment (4000 words): 100%