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Industrial relations in Australia is undergoing considerable change. The counterpart organisations to unions for employees are, of course, employer associations. This paper argue that employer associations exist to provide to employers, services to enable them to cope with the demands of unions and the complexities of employing staff in terms of wages to be paid and other legal obligations under awards, health and safety legislation, workers' compensation provisions and other industrial legislation. (Marker's notes) Employer …

…The disagreement occurred between employer and employee that can be solved by informal meetings, conciliation and arbitration. During the processes, the agreement must be reached by both parties. The central industrial relations issues are, in turn, being shaped by the changes occurring in the parties and the processes. The fragmentation affecting Australian employer associations may reflect a strategic choice that the costs of imposing greater unity would not yield sufficient benefit (McLaughlin, 1990:146-147). ( Marker's notes)