Fragmented futures New challenges in working life

by Ian Watson, John Buchanan, Iain Campbell and Chris Briggs
(Published by ACIRRT*, Federation Press, Sydney, 2003)
Reviewed by Chris White

Fragmented Futures New Challenges in Working Life is a well-researched analysis about work inequalities. It is most distressing that millions of Australians have to endure fragmented working lives. These industrial relations issues are most pressing.

The questions addressed in Fragmented Futures include: Where have we, as workers, come from? What do people want from work? Who gets the opportunity to work? Where are the jobs now? What is non-standard work? Are people working longer and harder? How is work rewarded? How do people balance work and life? Whatever happened to life-long learning? Is retirement something to look forward to? What lies behind the changes at work?

Readers gain important information and analysis on Australia’s workplace changes. Many workplaces are in crisis. This is a reality check to the ideology of how good it is at work with steady economic growth. Our workplace crisis is of great public concern. Fragmented Futures explains what is not presented in the media world of political spin. It addresses the question why deepening inequality at work has occurred. With the return of the Howard government’s free-market agenda that increases workplace inequality, the difficulties for millions of workers will get worse before they get better.

This book is a first-rate attack on the dominant ideology of ‘market regulation’. Free marketers say that it is unfortunate that inequality arises from their economic rationalist policies. Persisting unemployment, deepening the crisis for low paid workers, and increasing numbers of the working poor are a consequence of corporate priorities and the Howard government. A strong critique of corporate practices is presented. Corporate globalisation with increased competition, excess capacity and investment flows and trans-national corporate dominance drive Australia’s fragmented work futures.

The authors reject the free market chants and argue that fragmentation has to be reversed. They present much needed work reforms that benefit workers. The challenge is to develop policies to address inequality, foster workplace diversity where workplaces are inclusive, enable real choices for workers, and provide a more equal sharing of prosperity produced.

Australia’s new labour market has different features from Australian working life 100 years ago with the ‘Harvester’ family man’s basic wage. Today workplaces feature women workers, increasing casualisation, contract labour and individual contracts with much job dissatisfaction. Many female workers are not even covered by the award safety net. Job insecurity and work intensification is described. The important work/life collision public policy debates are canvassed. Policies to overcome these inequalities of income and security are presented. And union leadership is now dominated by women in leadership, campaigning strongly on these issues.

Interestingly, this research shows the aspirations of workers are more in favour of ‘quality in working life’ than income. Workers rank ‘interesting and satisfying work’ and ‘co-workers getting along’ higher than wages. This lack of sociability at work is disturbing. Our high individual consumption patterns, conspicuous with high income workers, do not lead to increased happiness. What is missing is genuine collectivity at work. In social life increased collective consumption of public education, libraries, public health, museums and the environment is important.

The authors expose government failure to plan for skills development and policies for life-long employment. The detrimental effect on skills due to the employers and the Howard government’s ‘training agenda’ is described. A renewed union energy is needed to address upskilling and the challenge to create high paid, skilled, full-time, secure employment.

It is refreshing to read the critical debate on the superannuation question. The book provides contemporary analysis of our retirement incomes policies. The inadequacy of retirement incomes with the current low pension and nine percent superannuation guarantee is shown. Arguments are raised to address superannuation funds being used for productive investment and social benefits, rather than corporate profit making through corporate restructuring and redundancies. Some pooling of funds in a National Investment Fund for industries and public goods such as housing is canvassed.

Fragmented Futures poses challenges for policy makers. There are alternative policies to address workplace inequality issues. Unions are campaigning for reform. But this won’t happen under Howard’s reactionary workplace and social agenda. Labor did not campaign strongly in the election on these pressing workplace issues. The long term challenge is ahead.

Workers want to be informed, consulted about, and be active at work in tackling the fragmented futures of working life. This book is a good reference for activists on these key industrial relations and political issues. It is useful for young union organisers to engage in these debates and act to reform the world of work. Some find this book too academic: a popular version would be good.

*ACIRRT is the Australian Centre for Industrial Relations Research and Training at Sydney University. ACIRRT has published a number of important books and research papers. www.acirrt.com