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Breakaway Unions: A Study of the Australian Entertainment Industry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

Grant Michelson
Grant Michelson*
Affiliation:
Department of Industrial Relations, University of Sydney
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Abstract

Previous research reveals that failure to resolve intra-union conflict may lead to the emergence of breakaways. Drawing on evidence from the Australian entertainment industry, this study examines the more unusual case of an attempt to secede by elements of the leadership (rather than membership) from the Australian Theatrical and Amusement Employees Association. Following secession, the breakaway group merged with a different union. The paper argues that the country’s system of industrial relations shaped the form of the breakaway and ultimately provided the legal vehicle for the disaffected group to split from its parent union. It further shows how union breakaways are not necessarily caused by union merger activity although it often appears that they are.

Type
Current Issues
Information
The Economic and Labour Relations Review , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , June 1999 , pp. 126 - 148
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1999

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