Individualism and collectivism within the academic employment relationship: A changing Australian higher education employment relations agenda

An increase in labour market insecurity, the diminution of collectivist institutions such as award structures, and the introduction of more individualised employment regulation (such as Australian Workplace Agreements) under the Workplace Relations Act has resulted in some employers seeking to utilise individualised employee relations that promise increased flexibility and productivity by restricting the intervention of third parties, such as unions, and allowing employers and employees to negotiate their own contract of employment. The higher education industry is one industry that has been undergoing such change of more recent times, which has been strengthened by the Coalition Government's proposal of a range of industrial reforms aimed at individualising the academic employment relationship. Furthermore, the introduction of more aggressive reforms than those previously posed by the Government seems somewhat more of an imminent reality, given the recent sentiments expressed by the Government in relation to obtaining the Senate majority. It is the aim of this paper to assess the changing nature of the academic employment relationship, particularly with respect to performance management and employment contract management, and to explore and comment upon the future of the academic employment relationship in the changing environment of employment relations.