Australian Constitutional Landmarks Book

Though I confess that I'm new to the field of Australian Trade Unionism, it nonetheless has opened an exciting and interesting dynamic of relationships between employees/workers, managers, capital & capitalists, the state and the think tanks and strands of academia that consult, fight or compromise to work, wind and web the ongoing of our society.

The contents of the book is as follows:

Introduction:
Trade Unionism in the Postwar boom, 1945-67
-The postwar upsurge
-The 1950s retreat
-The working-class revival of the 1960s
-On the verge of breakthrough

Part 1 The flood tide, 1968-74
-The union upsurge, 1968-74
-The breakthrough, 1968-69
-The flood tide gathers, 1969-74
-Gains from the flood tie
-The Labor ascendancy, 1972-74
Conclusion

Part 2 The standoff, 1974-83
-Economic crisis and the halting of the flood tide, 1974-75
-The onset of economic crisis
-Business goes on the attack
-Union response to the crisis
-Unions and the Kerr Coup
Unionism in the Fraser years
-A period of retreat, 1976-78
-Union recovery, 1978-81
-The end of the Fraser Government and the emergence of the Accord

Part 3 The ebb tide, 1983-2007
-The ALP-ACTU Accord, 1983-90
-The early years of the Accord, 1983-86
-The rise of productivity trade-offs, 1987-90
-The position of trade unions by 1990
The 1990 federal election

Enterprise bargaining and a revived employer offensive, 1990-96
-A new phase in the productivity revolution
-Working class resistance
-The two faces of unionism
-The 1996 election and the end of the Accord

Unionism in a cold climate, 1996-2004
-Workers and their union in 1996
-Two early clashes
-The anti union offensive continues
-Union efforts to reverse the decline

WorkChoices and the defeat of the Howard Government
-WorkChoices
-The 'Your Rights at Work' campaign
The 2007 federal election

Results and prospects
-Australian unionism from flood to ebb tide:a summary of the argument
-The challenge facing the unions
-Prospects for revival

Tom Bramble has done a fine job in concise and well informed content, highlighting the struggles, contradictions, minor and major victories, the defeats and entrenchments. Highlighting how the great era of unionism and collective organisation were able to sustain and demand, the conditions and awards that were required for job recognition and satisfaction. Enabling the strong consideration that the working population and indeed unions, had to be recognised. Although it was never as clear cut as some would have you believe, there were always times of infighting, indecisiveness, political and or ideological squabbles, blackmail and of course corruptible elements and contracts. Nevertheless, as all of history does, the environment changed, and a new world would emerge from the 1970s and into the 1980s and beyond. Seeing to that any gains and safeguards would be mauled or removed. With much of it be repackaged in smaller entitlements, reduced hours and job security, the loss of the ability to strike, as well as union powers and organising abilities. Though as it gets quite concerning and dark, there is and will always be hope. Revival and hopefully, an intent to safeguard and indeed advance for more, is always on the table and within reach. Now, more than ever, is it needed. Especially with continual reform, and the unions themselves playing too safe.
A much needed and well received book. Whether my blathering did any justice, perhaps not, but it is nonetheless a testament to how Australian workers, when given the right tools, can make change and progress.