Trade unions probably affect you each and every day, without you realising how. (Hint what is WEA's connection to trade unions?) Join guest presenter Lynne Poleson, former NSW Branch Secretary of Finance Sector Union and ACTU National Executive member with Sandy Killick, WEA democracy specialist to find out how trade unions shaped Australia’s political, social and civic landscape. Explore the world view of trade unions & trace their impact, from the early 1800s to the present. Join us for a series of three lectures.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face / Online

SUGGESTED READING

• ACTU, History of Australian unions
• The Conversation, Unions do hurt profits, but not productivity, and they remain a bulwark against a widening wealth gap
• The Conversation, Unions: part of the solution, or part of the problem?
• The Conversation, Articles on Trade unions
• ABC News, The great trade union women of Australian history
• ABC News, Conspiracy? War on the waterfront
• International Labour Organisation, History of the ILO

COURSE OUTLINE

• How trade unions shaped Australia - Economic, political, social and civic impacts
• The early days - 1820s to 1950s in Australia and the establishment of the International Labour Organisation
• 1950s to now - key turning points in the last 75 years
• Looking forward - how might trade unions helps us face the big challenges coming our way?

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Appreciate the economic, political, social and civic impacts of the trade union movement in Australia
2. Gain an accurate understanding of the philosophy, principles and approaches of trade unions.
3. Gain a long term view of the changing role of trade unions from the 1820s to the present.
4. Contribute to a discussion on how trade unions may help us face the big challenges of the early 21st century.