Professor Peter Fairbrother

Projects

Peter Fairbrother leads three research projects. The first research programme focuses on union renewal and revitalisation. Peter has been at the forefront of debates about union renewal. This research began with a sustained enquiry into the processes and significance of workplace unionism. Building on this early research he contributed the definition and scoping of union renewal in the recent period. This enquiry has led into debates about social movement unionism, and the changes that may be taking place in relation to globalisation. This research builds on the work of international trade union research network, bringing together research teams from Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Second, Peter is developing a series of focused projects in Australia. The first one, titled ‘local and global trade unionism’, and co-led by Dr Ruth Barton aims to develop a programme of research on the transport and logistics industries, defining key aspects of the impact of globalisation with respect to labour. A second research project involves and Australian Research Council funded project, Unions and Regional Transition’. A third project focuses on trade unions and climate change. One theme focuses on a prototypical case, union responses and initiatives in relation to policies and practices in the energy generation in the Latrobe Valley in the State of Victoria. The second focus is on green jobs and the prospects of developing a green economy. Here the research explores the policies of unions towards green jobs and a green economy, the alliances that may be in the process of development between trade unions and environmental groups, and the skills base and requirements for a green economy.

Third, together with Professor Bruce Wilson (Director, EU Centre, RMIT University) and the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council, Peter is establishing a project on ‘Transition in City-Regions, focusing on the Latrobe Valley Region, Victoria Australia. Part of a six city-region study in Australia, this project seeks to apply the theory and methodology of smart specialisation in a political and economic context distinct from the EU. It will assist Australian city-regions to develop new models of regional development focused on value-adding, sustainable and inclusive growth which serves community and livelihood. Building on earlier research on the Latrobe Valley region, the project will:

• Map involvement of public services in driving innovation in the region
• Identification of drivers and practices for collaboration between public services, with business, academic and community participants.
• Organisation of two scenario workshops on innovation for growth; In the EU methodology one key outcome has been ‘entrepreneurial discovery’.
• Identify appropriate value-added markets, key participants in and outside the region, and develop the program of activity for the following two and half years. 

Over the last two decades, Peter has undertaken public services research in the UK and Australia. This work examines trade union organisation and responses to the restructuring that has taken place in the public services, examining the core administrative departments and agencies in each country, as well as work and employment in these areas in both countries. Core themes that are addressed include the depoliticisation process in public sector restructuring and processes of union renewal.

Peter is International Core Researcher of the Centre de recherche interuniversitaire sur la mondialisation et le travail (CRIMT).

Peter is committed to teaching and research interests in the area of global political economy. Prospective research students (particularly on questions relating to trade unionism) can email peter.fairbrother@rmit.edu.au. Peter is willing to advise on draft research proposals and help facilitate both PhD work as well as research.

• Professor of International Employment Relations, School of Management, RMIT University (2009 onwards)
• Director for Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work

Teaching topics

• Global political economy
• Trade unionism in a global world
• Public services in a global world

Graduate supervision

• Privatisation and labour resistance
• Global political economy
• Trade unionism in a global world
• Public services in a global world
• Commodity chain governance and labour
• Empowerment and democracy in poor communities
• Trade union renewal
• Working time
• Employment precarity
• Migrant work

Research interests

• Global Political Economy;
• Global Trade Unionism;
• Politics and Trade Unionism;
• Sector Restructuring and Decomposition – steel, public services, ports and logistics;
• Workplace and Union Learning and Training.

• Research Professor, Cardiff School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University (1999 – 2009)
• Director (Joint with Professor Ed Heery), Centre for Global Labour Research, Cardiff University (2007 – 2009)
• Reader, Department of Sociology, University of Warwick (1997 – 1999)
• Senior Lecturer, Department of Sociology, University of Warwick (1994 – 1997)
• Lecturer, Department of Sociology, University of Warwick (1978 – 1994)
• Course Tutor, Workers' Educational Association (1977 – 1978)
• Lecturer, Department of Sociology, University of Warwick (1975 – 1977)
• Teaching Fellow, Faculty of Economics and Politics, Monash University (1971)
• Farmer (1965 – 1966)

Honorary Research Fellowships

• National Key Centre in Industrial Relations, Monash University (1998 – 1999)
• Public Sector Research Centre, University of New South Wales (1998 – 1999)

Honorary Professorships

• National Key Centre in Industrial Relations, Monash University (2000 – 2002)
• Industrial Relations Research Centre, University of New South Wales (2004 – 2005)
• Adjunct Professor and Associate of the Industrial Relations Research Centre, University of New South Wales (2006 – 2009)

Editorial Boards

• International Advisory Board Member, Labor Studies Journal (2007 onwards)
• International Advisory Board Member, Labor Studies Journal (2007 onwards)
• International Advisory Board Member, Global Labour (2008 onwards)
• Series Editor ‘Employment and Work Relations in Context’, Routledge (1993 onwards)

Expertise

• Expert Advisor, European Metalworkers Federation, Steel Sector Social Dialogue Committee (2006 – 2009)

Research Involvement

• International Professorial Researcher, Centre de recherche interuniversitaire sur la mondialisation et le travail (CRIMT) (2001 onwards)
• Director (with Professor Ed Heery) Centre For Global Labour Research, Cardiff University (2007 – 2009)
• Directorate Member, Regeneration Institute, Cardiff University (2007 – 2009)

Memberships/External Activities

• Founder Member of the Global Labour University project (2004 – 2007)
• Designer of Foundation Module for the Global Labour University, presented by Cardiff University (2003 – 2006)