Australian Unions Must Choose Democratic Militancy Over Bureaucratic Electoralism
Source: Tim Kennedy. "A Fight for the Soul of One of Australia’s Biggest Unions." March 8, 2026. jacobin.com
The Gist
Kennedy argues that Australian unions are failing because they've become undemocratic bureaucracies focused on electoral politics instead of fighting for workers in the workplace. He believes unions need to return power to their members and focus on strikes and workplace organizing rather than just supporting the Labor Party.
Conclusion
The United Workers Union (and Australian unions generally) must embrace democratic, militant trade unionism focused on workplace power rather than continuing as bureaucratic organizations primarily oriented toward electoral politics
Premises
- Union density in Australia has collapsed from 40% in 1992 to 12.5% in public sector and 8% in private sector today
- Current union leadership structures concentrate power in small groups that make decisions without genuine member consultation or transparency
- Australian unions have become too focused on electoral politics and Labor Party relationships rather than building workplace industrial power
- The UWU's current leadership majority has systematically removed democratic oversight and consolidated authority away from members
- Industrial power through collective workplace action is more sustainable and effective than relying on political patronage from sympathetic governments
- Democratic participation within unions is essential for workers to exercise meaningful power in their workplaces
- The Members First ticket represents a path toward rebuilding rank-and-file capacity and member control
Assumptions
- Union decline is primarily due to internal democratic deficits rather than just external hostile forces
- Members will choose militancy over status quo if given a genuine democratic choice
- Workplace industrial action is more effective than electoral politics for achieving worker gains
- Transparency and accountability will naturally lead to more militant union behavior
- The current leadership structure is fundamentally flawed rather than just poorly implemented