Deterring Democracy? Australia's New Generation of Trade Union Officials

Abstract

This article considers the continued relevance of two key arguments made by Callus (1986) in the mid-1980s as regards Australian trade union officials: first, that the labour market for trade union officials is clearly and sharply segmented; and second, that the growth of expert officer appointments has had a negligible impact on union democracy. Using census and union data, I conclude that the segmentation detected by Callus may be eroding, that union officials as a bloc are becoming increasingly differentiated from the rank-and-file membership, and that, although the growth of the expert officer class is secondary in its effect when compared to the main forces restricting the full play of union democracy, it may nonetheless be having an impact. The article concludes by considering the poten tial for a revival of union democracy.