Collaboration or the other C word (Consultation) in workplace change?

The recent blockades of Australia's waterfront and ports may bring flashbacks to the 1998 Waterfront Dispute and have people questioning where the workplace word of the millennium, "Collaboration" has gone.

It's true, "Collaboration" may have averted the recent blockades and industrial disputation. However "Collaboration" cannot account for the differing goals of employers, employees and unions, in this situation. Rather what is required is the other "C" word, "Consultation". Specifically, it was the lack of consultation in this most recent waterfront dispute which lead to the Federal Court forcing the employer to continue employing the workers; and provides a valuable lesson for all employers seeking to reduce its workforce through redundancies, or indeed introduce any form of change in the workplace.