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Trade Union Legitimacy and Legitimation Politics in Australia and New Zealand

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  • Chris F. Wright
  • Colm McLaughlin

Abstract

This article analyzes how engagement in legitimation politics in Australia and New Zealand has enabled unions to influence the industrial relations policy process. It demonstrates how enhanced moral legitimacy with the wider public positively impacts unions’ pragmatic legitimacy with governing political parties. Drawing on Grant’s insider–outsider typology, we show how enhanced legitimacy can increase unions’ power resources as insider groups with center‐left and, to a lesser extent, center‐right governing parties, which can enable greater influence over industrial relations policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris F. Wright & Colm McLaughlin, 2021. "Trade Union Legitimacy and Legitimation Politics in Australia and New Zealand," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(3), pages 338-369, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:indres:v:60:y:2021:i:3:p:338-369
    DOI: 10.1111/irel.12285
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alexander J. S. Colvin & Owen Darbishire, 2013. "Convergence in Industrial Relations Institutions: The Emerging Anglo-American Model?," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 66(5), pages 1047-1077, October.
    2. John T. Addison & Claus Schnabel (ed.), 2003. "International Handbook of Trade Unions," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 2705.
    3. Jonas Tallberg & Michael Zürn, 2019. "The legitimacy and legitimation of international organizations: introduction and framework," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 581-606, December.
    4. Rae Cooper & Bradon Ellem, 2008. "The Neoliberal State, Trade Unions and Collective Bargaining in Australia," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 46(3), pages 532-554, September.
    5. Guido Palazzo & Andreas Scherer, 2006. "Corporate Legitimacy as Deliberation: A Communicative Framework," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 66(1), pages 71-88, June.
    6. David Peetz & Janis Bailey, 2011. "Neo-liberal Evolution and Union Responses in Australia," Chapters, in: Gregor Gall & Adrian Wilkinson & Richard Hurd (ed.), The International Handbook of Labour Unions, chapter 5, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    7. Stephen Clibborn & Chris F Wright, 2018. "Employer theft of temporary migrant workers’ wages in Australia: Why has the state failed to act?," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 29(2), pages 207-227, June.
    8. Adele Santana, 2012. "Three Elements of Stakeholder Legitimacy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 105(2), pages 257-265, January.
    9. Colm McLaughlin & Chris F. Wright, 2018. "The Role of Ideas in Understanding Industrial Relations Policy Change in Liberal Market Economies," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(4), pages 568-610, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Martin B. Carstensen & Christian Lyhne Ibsen & Vivien A. Schmidt, 2022. "Ideas and power in employment relations studies," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(1), pages 3-21, January.
    2. Søren Kaj Andersen & Chris F Wright & Russell D Lansbury, 2023. "Defining the problem of low wage growth in Australia and Denmark: From the actors’ perspectives," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 29(2), pages 177-194, June.
    3. Mark Bray & Johanna Macneil, 2023. "Still central: Change and continuity in Australia's major industrial tribunal," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4-5), pages 359-376, July.

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