Over-awards: bargaining at plant level in Australia

The diversity of inter- and intra-plant relativities is confirmed by examining the earnings data from three plants (two engineering and one printing). The interrelationship between earnings structure and the plant bargaining processes is then discussed, using Brown's framework for analyzing earnings. Two basic features of bargaining are considered—the bargaining unit and the bargaining areas. It is concluded that the interaction of the bargaining unit and areas affects the level and distribution of earnings in accordance with the criteria employed by the controlling party.