Employer associations in the contemporary employment relations landscape : where to now?

The increasing acceptance of enterprise bargaining by both employers and trade unions in Australia calls into question not only the ongoing role of industrial tribunals, but also that of employer associations and their traditional role in the collective representation of individual employers in both award-making and in matters arising out of awards. This article reports on the findings of three surveys of approximately twenty employer associations based in Sydney. The associations represent a cross section of both large and semi-autonomous industry associations and umbrella associations. All have had a major ongoing industrial relations role. The surveys, conducted over a five year period, ascertained changes in the industrial and other activities of the associations, their attitudes and responses to the development of enterprise bargaining, and their assessment of the future role of employer bodies. Comparisons are drawn between the findings of the surveys. Two follow up case studies of employer associations are then used to further examine the potential role for employer associations in industries with a large proportion of small businesses.