Breaking up is not so easy: The employer/ union relationship during bargaining

In the absence of the "cut and run" option, business must engage and work with all employees and bargaining representatives (including unions) to secure beneficial outcomes for both employer and employee.

Industrial relations has long been in the political limelight and the recent article in The Australian ( Management can ignore unions and deal directly with staff; paywalled) again draws focus to the "boxing arena" that is said to be enterprise bargaining negotiations. In this scenario, the employers are the losers because they have failed to realise they don't have to bargain or engage with unions.

The article suggests that:

• employers don't have to involve unions in the bargaining process;