Industrial Democracy in Australia

Australia recently has developed an interest in industrial democracy as reflected in the European institutions of work councils, worker directors, and the like. A recent study surveyed both the general public and managers about their views on industrial democracy. Managers clearly favor worker participation techniques that threaten neither managerial prerogatives nor profits. These techniques include: 1. job redesign, 2. autonomous work groups, 3. joint consultation, and 4. joint decision making on minor issues. Techniques, such as joint decision making on major issues and worker directors, which involve power-sharing, were not favored by managers. Managerial workers included in the general population sample expressed views similar to those of the manager sample, while nonmanagerial respondents favored profit- and power-sharing arrangements.