Trade Unionism in Australia

'The history of trade unionism in Australia may well be our true history, with its decent dreams and compliant reality. In rescuing it from the political shadows, Tom Bramble has written an important and fluent reminder that nothing is gained without a fight. An essential read.' John Pilger, award-winning journalist, author and documentary film maker
'Tom Bramble's book title provides a penetrating analysis of the recent history of the Australian trade union movement. It also tells an exciting story of conflict, inspiring mass activity, huge mistakes, defeats and triumphs. It has no competitors in its systematic account of important decades of union activity and provides a superior assessment of specific events and episodes. Trade Unionism in Australia is indispensable to anyone interested in the current state of the Australian union movement and its future, industrial relations policy and labour history' Rick Kuhn, Reader in Political Science, Australian National University, winner of the 2007 Deutscher Memorial Prize
''Trade unions are far too often condemned to the leaden prose of institutional analysis. One of the great strengths of Tom Bramble's book is the way in which he conveys not just the arguments amid the changing fortunes of the union movement, but also the passions and allegiances that lay behind those arguments. This is not just a compelling analysis, but also a very human history, which starts from the strikes, bans and pickets of workers themselves.' Diane Fieldes, Lecturer in Industrial Relations, University of New South Wales