Resiembra

The trend towards a decline in industrial disputation after 1981-82 and a coinciding decrease in the number of strikes over Pay, Allowances and Log of Claims was common to most states. There was not however a common pattern to that decline: In NSW, South Australia and West Australia, the decline for both had started in 1982; when the three issues started to decline in Victoria, overall strike numbers were already on the decrease from the previous year; and in the ACT, there was a coinciding decline from 1983 with strikes over Pay, Allowances and Log of Claims increasing in 1984. In Victoria, Western Australia and the ACT, the trend was reversed in 1987, when strikes overall began to increase with a concomitant increase in disputes involving the three issues.

In keeping with the other states, disputes involving Pay, Allowances and Log of Claims declined in Queensland in 1982. The number of strikes overall however, increased in 1983. Queensland also experienced an increase in strikes and the three issues in 1987. In the Northern Territory, both were subject to fluctuations from 1981 with generally, a comparatively high level of strikes overall. The three issues did not necessarily coincide with the overall trend.

It is to be expected that an overall decline in the number of strikes would result also in a decline in the number of disputes over a given issue. Nevertheless, the survey revealed that the downward trend in most states from 1981-82, also resulted in a reduction in Pay, Allowances and Log of Claims as a percentage of strikes.

Without exception, the percentage share of the three issues was higher in the period 1973-81 and in some states, it was still high in 1982. The variations between states was quite considerable. For the period 1973-81, strikes involving Pay, Allowances and Log of Claims in NSW ranged between 30-50 per cent and in 1982, 21.6 per cent; in Victoria, 41.3-84 per cent and 50 per cent; in Queensland, 30-61 per cent and 29.3 per cent; in South Australia, 38.5-80 per cent and 77 per cent (bans were 38.5-80 per cent and 52.6 per cent); in Western Australia, 13-42.1 per cent and 48.1 per cent; in Tasmania 12.5-100 per cent and 25 per cent; in the Northern Territory, 0- 54.6 per cent and 20 per cent; and in the ACT, 0-66.7 per cent and 33.3 per cent (bans were 13.4-44 per cent and 16.7 per cent).

From 1983-86, notwithstanding the variations in the trend as outlined earlier, every state experienced a decline in these percentages. As was the case during the earlier

and 47.3 per cent; in Queensland, 10.5-15.9 per cent and 43.4 per cent; in South Australia, 10-38.9 per cent and 10 per cent (bans were 11.3-77.8 per cent and 35.3 per cent); in Western Australia, 5-25 per cent and 40 per cent; in Tasmania, 14.3- 55.5 per cent and 50 per cent; in the Northern Territory, 0-30 per cent and 20 per cent; and in the ACT, 0-50 per cent and 25 per cent (bans were 11.8-28.6 per cent and

15.7 per cent).

The percentage increases in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia in 1987 coincided with the increase in overall strike levels. NSW was the only state where the increase occurred in contrast to a continued decline in overall strike numbers. Although there is no instance of the maximum percentage from the earlier period being achieved, the increases indicate that a reversal to the earlier trend may have begun, at least in these states.

Bearing in mind that Log of Claims will include some issues unrelated to Pay and Allowances, it is reasonable to assume that, as the two issues declined in relative importance to other issues from 1982 and 1983, the percentage of Log of Claims that included either, would also decline. It remains to be seen then, whether the relationship between Pay and Allowances changed with the overall downturn in strike activity

In NSW and Victoria , while Pay declined in numbers and as a percentage from 1983- 1986, Allowances maintained pre-existing levels and percentages. In both states, there was an increase in Pay disputes in 1987. In Queensland, where peak strike activity occurred during the latter period, Pay and Allowances remained low. There was however a difference proportionately given the former relationship. Allowances, between 1982- 86 were much the same as a percentage as they had been earlier, while Pay showed a marked decline. Strikes over Pay and Allowances fell in South Australia between 1983-87, with Allowances featuring only once. Conversely, bans over both issues remained, more consistently in the case of bans and somewhat reduced as a percentage in each case. In Western Australia, Pay declined in number and as a percentage between 1982-87, while Allowances increased to a higher level and proportion than they had ever been. Between 1983-87, in Tasmania, Allowances attained higher levels than in any year during the earlier period, and generally higher percentages. Pay on the other hand, declined, with the exception of 1984 when, like Queensland, peak activity occurred. The Northern Territory experienced a decline in Pay and Allowances as far as numbers and percentages were concerned. Even so, there was a change in the relationship. From 1982-87 (with no strikes for either issue recorded in 1983),

while Pay featured in 1982 and 1984. Alternatively, bans were applied consistently from 1981-86 although they represented only small percentages. In contrast, bans over Pay were applied only once, in 1984, the same year that strikes were recorded. In

1987, strikes were recorded over Allowances, but not over Pay.

It can therefore be concluded that while both Pay and Allowances suffered a decline from 1982, Allowances retained a greater percentage of overall strike action. There was a decided change in the relationship between the two from 1982 onwards that extended to 1986 in some states and 1987 in others.

The variations in the degree to which Pay, Allowances and Log of Claims changed in relation to overall trends has been outlined above. In the following section, I will analyse a wider range of issues with a view to identifying the extent of change that occurred in other areas, and the concerns they expressed.

When I spoke to the research officer at the ACTU, I indicated to him that my research based on both data and anecdotal evidence suggested that in some industries there had been an increase in disputes over Allowances. He was reluctant to comment, although he acknowledged that the ACTU was aware of such claims. He further added that the resort to income maintenance through increased Allowances was discouraged by the ACTU as being outsided the Accord guidelines.