Women at Work in Australia: Bargaining a Better Position?

Abstract

The Australian industrial relations system has undergone significant upheaval\nin the last few decades, with a push towards decentralisation. Women have\ntraditionally relied on centralised wage setting and other statutory arrangements\nto improve their chances of equitable outcomes. One factor to which the widening\ngender pay gap is attributed is the introduction of enterprise and individual\nagreements (van Gellecum 2008). Using the Australia at Work study, this paper\nexplores women's experiences at work, focusing on their position in the labour\nmarket and their role in bargaining at the workplace. Women are more likely to\nbe found in part-time, low-paid and low-qualified jobs, which limit their ability to\nnegotiate better employment outcomes. Regardless of their position in the labour\nmarket, however, women tend to rely on award arrangements to determine their\npay and conditions. Any policies that undermine these arrangements are likely\nto contribute to inequitable outcomes for women.