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The mythology of 'staff' employment : a weapon of mass construction

Hearn Mackinnon, Bruce 2004, The mythology of 'staff' employment : a weapon of mass construction, in AIRAANZ 2004 : Proceedings of the 18th Association of Industrial Relations Academics of Australia and New Zealand Conference : new economies: new industrial relations, Association of Industrial Relations Academics of Australia and New Zealand, Waikato, NZ, pp. 246-253.

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Title The mythology of 'staff' employment : a weapon of mass construction
Author(s) Hearn Mackinnon, Bruce
Conference name Association of Industrial Relations Academics of Australia and New Zealand. Conference (18th : 2004 : Noosa, Qld)
Conference location Noosa, Queensland
Conference dates 3-6 Feb. 2004
Title of proceedings AIRAANZ 2004 : Proceedings of the 18th Association of Industrial Relations Academics of Australia and New Zealand Conference : new economies: new industrial relations
Editor(s) Barry, Michael
Brosnan, Peter
Publication date 2004
Conference series Association of Industrial Relations Academics of Australia and New Zealand Conference
Start page 246
End page 253
Publisher Association of Industrial Relations Academics of Australia and New Zealand
Place of publication Waikato, NZ
Summary This paper explores the use of symbols and myths by management of Rio Tinto as important components of their weaponry for implementing a de-unionisation program throughout their Australian operations. The special use of language, categorisations and generalisations, have been crucial to the company’s successful implementation of “staff” employment. The ability of management to challenge and undermine traditional mythologies and develop new ones has been an essential ingredient in the company’s recipe for success in its efforts to deunionise its workforce. In particular, the paper explores management’s skill in promoting either the equalisation or differentiation aspects of “staff” employment. The paper concludes that one of the distinguishing features of “staff” employment has been it’s ability to promote the appearance of equalisation while actually leading to an enhanced differentiation of power between workers and managers.
Notes Reproduced with the specific permission of the copyright owner.
ISBN 090929190X
Language eng
Field of Research 150306 Industrial Relations
Socio Economic Objective 970115 Expanding Knowledge in Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services
HERDC Research category E1 Full written paper - refereed
Persistent URL http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30005369

Document type: Conference Paper
Collection: School of Management and Marketing
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