Tony Brown

Investigations of the impact of economic restructuring on work and workers is not common. Undertaking such investigations from a workers perspective and asking what workers have learned from this process is even less common.

This research aims to make a contribution to that understanding by examining the process of change in two factories, one in the clothing industry, the other in a steel manufacturing factory. There are similarities and differences in both cases. They are both predominantly unionised plants, the restructuring was commenced as part of negotiated changes in the industrial relations arena, they are both manufacturing plants, both are in regional centres of NSW and both have changed their work organisation to reflect managements current interest in team based work.

There are important differences as well. The clothing factory workforce is overwhelmingly female while the steel factory is predominantly male. The clothing factory while unionised has historically had less industrial strength than the steel workers unions. And the changes arising from the moves to teams and union/management consultation are more advanced in the steel factory than in the clothing factory.

The research seeks to place these changes in the context of industrial and educational change that occurred in Australia from the late 1980s. Groups of workers from the two factories and their union representatives were asked to reflect on the changes that were introduced in their workplaces. They were asked to reflect on their individual and group experience, why they thought the changes were introduced and whether the benefits that were originally promoted have eventuated.

One of the central findings of the research is that contrary to much of the popular literature, which suggests that a new set of workplace relations are being carved out, there are important continuities between the modern workplace and its forerunners. Far from being overthrown Taylorist work methods have not disappeared but are instead being reorganised.

This research has only been possible because of the Ronald Henderson Foundations Community Research Program. The Foundations support has enabled this research to be undertaken and assisted the Centre for Popular Education continue its work aimed at developing the connection between economic restructuring, workers' experience and informal learning.

The final report is attached.