Silencing Dissent to Win Consent: National Training Reform in the Accord Years

By Tony Brown

How were doubt and dissent handled within the union movement during the Accord years?

Brown looks at examples of how individuals and individual unions who raised opposition to the prevailing line were treated, the interaction between unions, and the internal culture of the Australian Metal Workers Union (AMWU), the most prominent union behind the Accord and training reforms. A culture that inhibited discussion, questions, doubt and criticism is revealed. The costs to the labour movement in the years since the 1996 election defeat of the ALP are considered and are linked to the winding down of rank and file delegate involvement in union decision-making. Future organising strategies must learn from the past.

(Labour & Industry, vol. 15, no.1, August 2004)