| Workplace Investigation | |
The activities below are designed to supplement class room teaching on this topic and prepare students for undertaking the multimedia project. They cover:
The terms workplace relations, industrial relations, unions and workers rights are frequently referred to in the press. What do they refer to and what do they mean? Use the following web sites to find the meaning of key IR terms. These are listed in the terms activity sheet . Download this sheet and the complete the table.
The Department of Immigration offers a simple introduction to working in Australia
An extensive Glossary of IR terms is available at the ACTU Work site for schools
Use the terms in this table to interview one of your parents. What are their working conditions, holiday leave loadings and superannuation contributions?
Watch the Behind the News Special on Workplace Change.
Answer the following:
You can watch this show online at the ABC BTN Archive Workplace Change Episode 29
Examine the following case studies and determine who were the winners and who were the losers.
Case studies of successful bargains
Career one offer some simple online case studies of successful AWA's. Career One:When AWA's Work
There is an extensive collection of case study material on AWA's from the Government's web site. In the section on the workforce for tomorrow their is also excellent material on the impact of the ageing of the population. Workplace the future.
Case studies of unsuccessful bargains?
An activity of this kind is in the previous activity sheet. Students who want more examples will find many at the ACTU's Rights@Work Web site.
Use the labour market information at Job Search to ascertain whether or not there is a skill shortage in your chosen career. Make sure you examine the age profile of employee's in your chosen career. They might all retire before you start work.How will the changes in workplace relations affect your future pay rates?
Make a note of your findings.
Download the following power point presentation and complete the activities inside it.
Examine the data and charts in the labour market spreadsheet and data on trends in AWA's.
(1) What are the trends in Industrial Disputes? How do these affect arguments about the workplace relations act?
(2) Identify trends other key labour market variables? Such as Job Vacancies, Long Term Unemployment and the Unemployment and Participation rates.
How do these trends affect arguments about the workplace relations act?
(3) Using data summarize your findings.
Many members of the public are concerned about the workplace relations changes. These concerns are recorded in the Age's blog for all to see. Go to the Age's blog.
Identify five different opinions about the changes in workplace relations. Are they for or against?
Make sure you use the calendar on the side and go back through older blog entries in order to find blog entries about workplace relations.You can also search the blog.
Summarize each opinion.
Decide does the evidence so far support this opinion? Yes, No or uncertain?
An organizer is available for this task.
Details of the proposed changes are available at the following sites. It is up to you to decide whether they are evidence or not.
This site has been established by the government to explain the changes.
This is the home page of the relevant government department. The research section contains extremely useful labour data especially on shortages and useful press releases.
