Sunday, December 29, 2019

Piaget s Stages Of Cognitive Development - 885 Words

Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development Jean Piaget was born on August 8th, 1896 in Switzerland. He was a very bright student, who had his PhD by the age of twenty-two. Piaget studied child psychology and concrete operations which lead to his theory of the four stages of cognitive development. These stages are still used now in preschool and elementary grade set-ups. The first stage in his theory is the sensorimotor stage which last roughly from birth to about two years of age. This stage actually has several sub-stages. The first sub-stage is â€Å"reflexes† which last for the first month. In this sub-stage, all the child knows is purely what reflexes the child was born with, such as sucking and grasping. The next sub-stage is â€Å"primary circulation reactions† which if from one to four months. New schema’s and coordinating sensation are involved in this sub-stage. An example of this would be if a child accidently sucked on his or her thumb and then later intentionally repeat the action. These actions are repeated because the infant finds them pleasurable. The third sub-stage is the â€Å"secondary circulation reactions† which last from four to eight months. This is where the child becomes more focused on the world and sees how an action can cause a response and will continue to do it. The fourth sub-stage is  "coordination of reactions† lasting from eight to twelve months. Here the child begins to show actions that were clearly intentional. To achieve a desired effect the child mayShow MoreRelatedPiaget s Stages Of Cognitive Development1385 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract In this paper, Piaget’s Stages of cognitive development will be briefly explained, and I will explain where my cousin, Laura, is according to these stages. The real names of people discussed in this paper have been protected by not using their real names, so their personal information is confidential. My fifteen year old cousin Laura has been through many changes, and I have watched the rapid transformation in her personality, attitude, and way of thinking all in the past few years. Read MorePiaget s Stages Of Cognitive Development1072 Words   |  5 Pagespsychology concepts including Piaget’s stages of cognitive development, psychoactive drugs, and dreams. The first concept that I can relate to is Piaget’s stages of cognitive development. Jean Piaget came up with this concept about how a child’s brain develops throughout their life. There are four stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. The two stages I can specifically relate to are the sensorimotor and preoperational stages. I have a three year old cousin whoRead MorePiaget s Stages Of Cognitive Development930 Words   |  4 PagesThe Cognitive Development theory refers to the ability to learn through thinking and reasoning. Theorist Jean Piaget developed the stages of cognitive development according to age and how individuals learn through their environment and senses. Based on Education.com: Stages of Cognitive Development (Driscoll/Nagel ,2008), these stages are from infant to teenage years with specific abilities. The first stage of Piaget’s stages of development is called Sensorimotor, which starts at birth to tw o yearsRead MorePiaget s Stages Of Cognitive Development Essay1495 Words   |  6 PagesJean Piaget developed a cognitive approach to studying and classifying behavioral growth in stages. He believed that each child matured and learned at a different rate, so even though children mature in the same cognitive sequence, there might be separation in the achievement of each level from one child to the next (Swartwood, 2012, p. 46). Piaget’s four stages of cognitive development are Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational (Swartwood, 2012, p. 49). PiagetRead MorePiaget s Stages Of Cognitive Development Theory900 Words   |  4 PagesThe cognitive development theory refers to the ability to learn through thinking and reasoning. Theorist Jean Piaget developed the stages of cognitive developmental according to age and how individuals learn through their environment and senses. These stages are from infant to teenage years. The first stage of Piaget’s Stages of Development is called Sensorimotor, which are ages 0-2. It describes how babies learn through their environment. The Next stages is preoperational for ages two through sevenRead MorePiaget s Four Stages Of Cognitive Development1600 Words   |  7 PagesThought-out the course of this year we have looked at the biological, cognitive, and socio-emotional theories of the human life span from infancy to late adulthood. The biological aspect of life span focused on the physical changes of humans. There are phy sical changes that have to occur before a baby form in the fetus and then is born to this world. Through-out our life, the physical changes occur constantly till death and even more. There is no psychologist during the whole chapter that focusesRead MoreCritically Evaluate Piaget s Stage Theory Of Cognitive Development1605 Words   |  7 Pagesevaluate Piaget’s stage theory of cognitive development Jean Piaget’s (1896-1980) theory of cognitive development is considered of significant importance and use, so much so, there has been considerable research to test his theories, but also, to refute his claims. Despite numerous objections to Piaget’s findings, I will maintain that Piaget’s stage theory of cognitive development is continuously influential in contemporary psychology. I will briefly outline and explain Piaget’s four stages and due toRead MorePiaget s Stage Theory Account For Children s Cognitive Development1759 Words   |  8 PagesHow well does Piaget’s stage theory account for children’s cognitive development? Intro Piaget believed there were four stages in a child’s cognitive development and sub stages within these stages. These stages have been the object of debate since Piaget introduced them and are still continuously debated. All of the stages are very concrete and large scale. They don’t account for children at a particular age who are behind or ahead. Piaget underestimated the capability of children to do particularRead MorePiaget s Eight Stages Of Development And Vygotsky s Theory On Cognitive Development Essay2193 Words   |  9 Pagesthat happens is just apart of life. Two theories that I would like to focus on that I believe have had the biggest impact in my life are, Erikson’s eight stages of development and Vygotsky’s theory on cognitive development. Erikson’s theory is based off of 8 stages ranging from ages â€Å"zero† (birth); where we learn to either trust our caregiver(s) or we develop mistrust where we may become suspicious or anxious. Up until death, where we end with integrity vs. despair; where we either we either fullyRead MoreThe First Stage Of Jean Piaget s Cognitive Development982 Words   |  4 PagesThe first stage of Jean Piaget’s Cognitive development is the Sensorimotor Period. This stage is the earliest of cognitive growth. The Sensorimotor stage happen within the first two years of a child’s life. During this stage children are only aware of what is in front of them. They primarily focus what is in their possession at the moment, what they can get into, and their physical environme nt. When I was a child I went throw the process of the sensorimotor stage. My mom said when I was four months

Saturday, December 21, 2019

The Positive And Negatives Of Modern Law Enforcement

The Positive and Negatives of Modern Law Enforcement Since the beginning of time, the major obstacles facing the Criminal Justice system have been how it can be continually improved and expanded upon, and if the changes were beneficial. Determining what works, what does not, and how to fix what is not working are not as easy as it would seem. It is also important to gauge how it will affect the public, and how the changes will be received. Two of the positive advancements in the Criminal Justice system I believe are in the fields of technology and education. In the past 30 years, I have seen advances in technology that seem like they were in a science fiction movie just years ago. I remember patrolling the streets in a car with nothing more than a clipboard, and a Bic pen. We did not have computers and the wonder of the internet in our car. If you wanted to check warrants or a vehicle registration, you would have to switch to a side channel on the radio and request a dispatcher to run the information for you. You would then switch over to your main channel and continue patrolling. If it was a good night in twenty to thirty minutes you would be called and told to switch back over to the side channel and the information was given to you. Today we have laptops with high speed modems that rival most DSL connections that allow us to run massive amounts of information in blinks of an eye. GPS, digital radios, tasers, DNA, crime mapping, KBCOPS digital report writing, ComputerShow MoreRelatedEssay on Taser Guns763 Words   |  4 Pagestechnolo gy advancement plays a major issue in our everyday lives. With the rapid advancement in technology, issues of law enforcement and its power have to be addressed. The issue is, whether problems created when new technologies and the criminal justice system meet a positive one or do the negatives outweigh the positives. The main focus is the use of tasers by law enforcement. â€Å"The Taser is a hand held â€Å"conducted energy weapon† that uses propelled (i.e., shot) wires to send out or conduct energyRead More`` Fruitvale Station `` : The Modern Homeland Security Policy Essay955 Words   |  4 Pagesinto the modern homeland security policy because towards the resolution of the film there is racial profiling. Also, in regards to the homeland security policy, race-based criminal profiling had become a denounced law enforcement practice (Newman). â€Å"In 1999, a Gallup poll revealed that more than 80% of Americans disapproved of the practice of racial profiling by law enfo rcement authorities on any level† (Newman). In Fruitvale Station there is a detachment between the community and the law enforcementRead MoreThe Conflict Between Good And Evil Essay1611 Words   |  7 Pageswhether a character was going to be virtuous or villainous based on their role in society. Princes, kings, knights, these were the â€Å"good† characters. Tax collectors, witches, and other scoundrels were quite obviously evil. In modern times, the public generally considers law enforcement officers to be on the side of righteousness. However, we expect characters to take action to further their cause, to advance justice or bring about chaos. Witches don’t just pass through town, they throw fireballs and putRead MorePolice Profiling And Its Effectiveness1317 Words   |  6 Pagesbeen used successfully by Law Enforcement in several areas as a field on investigation (Douglass, Ressler Burgess, 1986). Profiling has various positives along with negatives, and th ese are accepted by Satzewich and Shaffir (2009) who suggest that racial profiling is best understood in the context of a police subculture where these police officer intergrade profiling as part of their every day work routine. Profiling is a big factor in the daily work of every Law Enforcement Officer and it cannot beRead MoreA Unified Accountability System Of Law Enforcement Essay1736 Words   |  7 PagesSystem in Law Enforcement Introduction Accountability in law enforcement is an element that is vital to effective policing across the United States. Furthermore, it is one of the fundamental principles in our democratic society. Additionally, accountability helps to bridge the law enforcement agency and the community in an effective crime fighting relationship. Consequently, it is imperative that officials hold law enforcement officers and agencies accountable for all positive and negative actionsRead MorePolice Influence on Society744 Words   |  3 PagesJennings CJA/344 February 11, 2013 Stephen Humphries Police Influence on Society There are different factors when it comes to the police influence on society. The factors can be both negative and positive on society. The police are in the community to protect and serve. The main purpose of law enforcement is to maintain order and to investigate criminal activity in the United States. The history of American policing was learned from Great Britain and adapted by America. The first ideal peopleRead MoreLaw as an Instrument of Social Change1546 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION For decades now law and society theorists have been preoccupied with attempts to explain the relationship between legal and social change in the context of development of legal institutions. They viewed the law both as an independent and dependent variable (cause and effect) in society and emphasized the interdependence of the law with other social systems. In its most concrete sense, social change means large numbers of people are engaging in group activities and relationshipsRead MoreThe Job Of A Police Officer1716 Words   |  7 Pagesof rules was created. This system was called the Law. With the law, came the need for people to enforce this law. People have had the need for protection, whether for their lives or for their property, to safeguard it from criminals, even though this law had been established. Ferguson states: â€Å"In Medieval Times, feudal lords employed retainers who made sure the taxes were paid. These employees may have attempted to maintain some kind of law and order among the people, but at the same time,Read MoreFice Of Community Policing Essay1609 Words   |  7 PagesOffice of Community Oriented Policing Services of the U.S. Department of Justice describes community policing as, community policing focuses on crime and social disorder through the delivery of police services that includes aspects of trad itional law enforcement, as well as prevention, problem-solving, community engagement, and partnerships. The community policing model balances reactive responses to calls for service with proactive problem-solving centered on the causes of crime and disorder. CommunityRead MoreCommunity Policing : Quality From Inside Out An Evaluation Of Impact789 Words   |  4 Pages Weiss. D (2010). The Evolution of community policing: A process Evaluation. Lewistown, New York: The Edwin Mellen Press. This book talks about community policing implementation in different police agencies. It also shows the process both positive and negative and the progress it has created. Uchida, C., M. Wells, S. Solomon, et al. (2009). Assessing the Las Cruces Police Department: A Review of Community Police Operations and Procedures. Silver Spring, Md: Justice Security Strategies, Inc. This

Friday, December 13, 2019

Trade Unions in Australia Free Essays

Table of contents Executive Summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Page 3 Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Page 4 Benefits of joining a union†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. We will write a custom essay sample on Trade Unions in Australia or any similar topic only for you Order Now Page 6 Membership declines and impact of legislation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Page 7 Effect of Human Resources on Employees and Union memberships†¦Page 9 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Page 10 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Page 11 Executive Summary: Since the 1980’s trade union membership numbers have declined rapidly ( Balnave et al, 2007, pg 130). Once upon a time it was quiet important for employees to be part of a union as it entitled them to have a collective voice, and power to build a pleasurable workplace. There have been many factors that have contributed to this decline in union memberships such as changes in workplace structure as well as increase in employee numbers (Patmore, 1992, pg 227 ). Changes in legislation by the Howard government with the implementation of the 1996 Workplace Relations Act and later the Workchoices Act restricted trade unions in a large way therefore contributing to the decline in members. The increasing use of Human Resources within businesses is also impacting as employees are choosing to directly consult management over issues rather then involving a third party. With the Labour party regaining power in 2007 the legislations have now been adjusted in favour of trade unions. However they are going to have to continue to work hard so employees choose to join unions and begin to go against this declining trend of union memberships (Cooper, 2004, pg 207). Introduction: A trade union is ‘an organisation of employees whose focus is the protection and negotiation of pay rates and conditions of employment’ ( Balnave et al, pg 536, 2007). By people joining together as a collective not an individual, produces a greater amount of power when dealing with issues such as wages and working conditions (Balnave et al, 2007, pg125). It is this power that influences changes to occur in employment relations and as a result employees become satisfied with their workplace. Trade unions for many years now have played a key role in Australia’s structure of employee relations ( Balnave et al, 2007, pg 124 ). It can be noted that trade unions in Australia date back to as early as the rebellions made my convicts in regards to their living conditions and have moved forward to the current issues of employees such as work conditions, pay rates and various other factors (ACTU website). From the years 1850-1990, trade unions were officially established in Australia (ACTU website) and various unions were formed such as the shearers union, seaman union and miners union (ACTU website). In 1901 the NSW Industrial Arbitration Act was passed. This act was bought about in the hope of creating productive workplaces by improving the standards of workplaces ( ACTU website). Also this act issued compulsory arbitration so that if a dispute did arise within the workplace, it must be bought to the Industrial Relations Committee (ACTU website). Since the 1980’s trade unions in Australia have declined significantly (Patmore, 1992, pg 225). at a rate of 1% per year then increased to 2% per year in the 1990’s. ( Balnave et al, 2007, pg 137). There are several reasons as to why this has occurred such as the structure of the workplace, for example the increase in causal labour (Patmore, 1992, pg 227), changes in economic markets, increase in flexibility given to employers over employees, increase in managerial rights and the behaviour of unions overtime (Balnave et al, 2007, pg 138) . The biggest change of all for trade unions in Australia came about in 1996, with the reintroduction of the liberal party under the power of John Howard. It was here that the development of the Workplace Relations Act occurred. This act saw the introduction of Australian Work Agreements (AWA’s). These agreements allowed for employers to work closely with their employees to set their own working conditions that would be suited to their work practices. The years following saw the Australian Council of Trade Unions along with the Labour government campaigning against Howard’s idea of industrial relations ( Cooper, 2008, pg 285). In late 2007, the labour government regained power of the federal parliament. From here the Rudd government moved to create the ‘Forward with Fairness’ policy that still stands to date ( Cooper, 2008, pg 286). This was more beneficial for the unions. The unions however will remain tarnished from Howard’s workchoices for quiet sometime and must focus on recruiting new members (Brigden, 2008, pg 365) if unions are going to remain within Australia. Human Resources practices have also impacted on unions as managers within a workplace are encouraged to now work directly with their employees, rather then including a third party such as a trade union ( Balnave et al, 2007, pg 169). Because of this, trade union members will continue to decline Benefits of joining a union: Joining a union can be extremely beneficial for its members. A union offers it’s members the chance to join a collective support rather then fight individually. It increases economic benefits, increases productivity and workplace protection ( Balnave et al, 2007, pg 131). The culture of the workplace may also influence ones decision to join a union. When faced with a problem it is a lot easier to proceed to fight this problem if you are part of a collective rather then approach the problem as an individual. In the case of trade unions, the advantage of being part of a collective means that the union can approach management so that matters between management and employees are discussed on a more even slate ( Balnave et al, 2007, pg 133). Also being part of a collective group means that members are represented in front of a tribunal, and therefore have equal chance of success ( Balnave et al, 2007, pg 135). This is something that a member would expect of their membership. Trade unions also prove effective when they act as lobby groups as a means of getting both parliament and the publics attention something that would be difficult to do as an individual ( Balnave et al, 2007, pg 135). Trade unions are said to increase economic benefits as the presence and influences of a union may create changes in wages and working conditions (Balnave et al, 2007, pg 134). If an employee is satisfied with their wage and conditions then it is most likely that they will be more productive and therefore a greater asset for the company. Being part of a union enables protection for an employee in many areas including training, recruitment, wages and conditions of the workplace (Balnave et al, 2007, pg 132). This protection is important for an employee if their employer is expecting them to be efficient within the workplace. Lastly if the culture of the workplace is very union orientated, an employee is not going to feel comfortable if they too are not a member and vice versa. Therefore culture has an influence. There is also the argument that unions do not offer as many benefits as promised and members do not achieve any benefits. In terms of economic benefit, yes a union may influence an increase in wages, however in return management may increase work pressure on employees ( Balnave et al, 2007, pg 134). At the same time, the decline in union membership numbers is affecting the ability of unions to effectively influence management (Balnave et al, 2007, 133). Because of this employees do not see the benefits in joining a union. Membership declines and impact of legislation: Since the 1980’s union memberships have declined in Australia at an alarming rate ( 2004). Memberships in 1988 stood at 42% opposed to 2003 with a small percentage of 23% (2004). This decline in membership can be explained by different variables such as change in workplace structure such as the move to more casual positions, workplaces employing larger groups of people and poor economic performance. The employers ability to make better wages also tests the need for unions ( Patmore, 1992, pg 227). Due to the close relationships that Trade unions share with the labour party many unions had relied on this relationship to make the conditions and wages for their members more pleasurable (Patmore, 1992, pg 231). So the re- election of the liberal government in the 90’s impacted significantly on the declining number of union members as there was no positive relationship between unions and the liberal party. From here on in the traditional Australian model of industrial relations was tarnished as yet again the people had chosen a government who had introduced an anti- union plan ( Barnes, 2005, 370). The first initial major change by the Howard government was the introduction of Workplace Relations ACT of 1996. This Act saw the introduction of Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs). These agreements enabled the employer and employee to formulate their own agreement conditions without any input from unions. The agreements had to pass the ‘No Disadvantage Test’ ensuring that an employee would in no way be disadvantaged by these individual AWA agreements (Balnave et al, 2007, pg 146). After winning the Australian people’s vote in the 2004 election, Howard’s government implemented changes to legislation which are considered to be the most significant in Australia’s history of industrial relations since the Conciliation and Arbitration Act of 1904 ( Riley Sarina, 2005, pg 343). These changes involved amendments to the Workplace Relations Act of 1996, to generate The Workplace Relations Act 2005, which is also known as Workchoices. The prime aim of workchoices was to shift the power in the workplace to be in favour of employers ( Barnes, 2005, pg 373). This introduction of this act really impacted on the involvement of trade unions in countless ways. Firstly they destroyed the ‘No disadvantage Test’, therefore there was no way in which to test employees were receiving basic wages and that their conditions of work were up to standards (Riley Sarina, 2005, pg 342). Also the unions were no longer able to enter workplaces and were restricted to visiting workplaces for recruitment only twice a year. If these rules were breached, penalties did apply ( Cooper, 2004, pg 202). Not only were unions unable to easily approach members and employees, but the Workchoices Act made it difficult for unions to partake in industrial action such as strikes (Barnes, 2005, pg 373). Because of the restrictions that workchoices placed on unions, members were not reaping the benefits they were promised. As a result memberships continued to decline (2004). In response to Howard’s Workchoices Act the Labour government decided to campaign against workchoice in the hope of winning the opinions of the broader community (Barnes, 2005, pg373). Together with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the Labour government launched a television campaign that dealt with issues such as job security, and a large level of unfairness that they believed was occurring in the workplace (Barnes, 2005,pg 375 ). The campaigns must have been some what effective as Labour was elected into power at the end of 2007. This was a great turning point for unions as it was the first time after more then a decade that they had not been confronted with an anti-union government ( Brigden, 2008, pg 365 ). Rudd’s government worked quickly to make amendment to the liberal government’s workchoices with the implementation of the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Act 2008. With this new Act came the removal of AWAs and putting in place a new ‘no disadvantage test’. The scrapping of AWAs and the re-introduction of the ‘no disadvantage test’ gave unions the ability to rebuild their members as they now had more ability to approach workplaces as the power had now shifted back to the employees. Due to the impact of Howard’s adjustments to industrial relations legislations with the introduction of Workplace Relations Act in 1996 then to the inclusion of the Workchoices Act 2006 unions were restricted on their ability to influence employees. This impacted greatly on the decline in union members. The Fair Work Act2008 implemented by Rudd’s government looks more promising for the continuation of unions, however to re-gain full respect unions are going to have to double their efforts and increase their efforts in years to come ( Cooper, 2004, pg 203). Effect of Human Resources on Employees and Union memberships: With the decrease in unions, there has been a noted increase in the use of human resources techniques in the workplace ( Balnave et al, 2007, pg 169). Human Resources is the element of a business that deals traditionally with pay and recruitment as well as planning and business performance ( Griffiths Lloyd-Walker, 2007, pg 2). The techniques adopted by Human resources focus on the individual and their performance within the workplace ( Balnave et al, 2007 pg, 169). For instance businesses are more focused on including employees in their decision making process and rewarding them through reward systems. Also there are fewer management levels within workplaces which enables employees to be placed on a similar level to higher management ( Patmore, 1992, pg 239). This day and age, HR within a workplace is focused on helping the workforce directly rather then including a third party such as a union ( Balnave et al, 2007, pg 169). Employees join unions for various reasons as already discussed such as the ability to be heard as a collective voice rather then as an individual, protection from employers, economic benefits and the culture of a workplace (Balnave et al, 2007, pg 169). Human Resources techniques offer the ability for employees to become more involved with their workplace decisions, it is possible that employees feel that they are able to easily approach management. Because of this employees feel that there is less need for them to become union members. Therefore because employees are able to voice their opinions and take part in the decision making process of their company, it is more then likely that employees will directly approach their management team rather then involving a third party such as a trade union. This inturn has an impact on the declining rate of trade union members. Conclusion: Trade unions have played an important role in industrial relations in Australia (Balnave et al, 2007, pg 124). Originally trade union membership was popular as it offered employees many benefits such as a collective voice and it gives employees a greater amount of power to achieve the pleasant working conditions they are after. For many years now trade union memberships have been declining due to various factors such as the change in workplace structure to more casual employment and companies employing larger work forces. However one of the biggest impacts of all was the re-election of the liberal government in 1996. The drastic changes the government made to industrial relations with the introduction of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 and later the Workplace Relations Act 2005. These acts placed large restrictions on unions and as a result the number of union memberships continued to decline. It wasn’t until the Rudd government was elected in 2007 that changes were made to these legislations that enabled unions to play a part in industrial relations once again. The modern practice of Human Resources in the workplace is also said to have impacted on the decline of union membership. Through the use of Human Resources techniques companies are now more inclined to directly deal with their employees rather then have a third party involved. This is well suited to employees and they may feel more comfortable just approaching management rather then be apart of a union which involve fees. The re-election of the labour government in 2007 lead to the changes in legislation that unions needed if they are going to regain their level of importance in industrial relations. However unions are going to have to work hard at doubling their efforts at recruiting employees if trade unions are going to have a positive history in Australia (Cooper, 2004, pg 208). References: Balnave, N, Brown, J, Maconachie G, Stone, RJ 2007 Employment Relations in Australia, 2nd edn, Wiley, Milton, QLD. Barns, A, 2005 ‘Trade Unionism in 2005’, Journal of industrial relations, vol. 48, no. 3, pp 369-383 Brigden, C, 2008 ‘Unions and Collective Bargaining in 2008’, Journal of industrial relations, vol. 51, no. 3, pp 365-378 Cooper, R, 2005 ‘ Trade Unionism in 2004’, Journal of industrial relations, vol. 7, no. 2, pp 202-211 Cooper, R, 2008 ‘Forward with Fairness? Industrial Relations under Labour 2008’, Journal of industrial relations, vol. 51, no. 3, pp 285-296 Griffiths, J Lloyd-Walker, 2007 ‘Human Resources Management’, 3rd edn, Pearson Education Australia, French Forest, NSW. Patmore, G, 1992, ‘ The fut ure of trade unionism- an Australian perspective, International Journal of Human Resources Management, vol. 3, no. 2 pp 225-239 Riley, J, Sarina, T, 2005, ‘Industrial legislation in 2005’, Journal of industrial relations, vol. 8, no. 3, pp 341-355 About Trade unions, Australian Council of Trade Unions, viewed 10th April, 2010 http://www. actu. org. au/About/Tradeunions/default. aspx Unions History 1900- 1960, Australian Council of Trade Unions, viewed 10th April 2010 http://www. worksite. actu. asn. au/fact-sheets/unions—history-1900-1960. aspx Feature article- Trade union membership, Australian Bureau of statistics, viewed 10th April 2010 http://www. abs. gov. au/AUSSTATS/abs@. nsf/featurearticlesbyCatalogue/592D2F759D9D38A9CA256EC1000766F7? OpenDocument How to cite Trade Unions in Australia, Papers