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Managerial technologies and power relations: a study of the A ustralian waterfront
Author(s) -
Gekara Victor Oyaro,
Fairbrother Peter
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
new technology, work and employment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.889
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1468-005X
pISSN - 0268-1072
DOI - 10.1111/ntwe.12003
Subject(s) - consolidation (business) , argument (complex analysis) , solidarity , port (circuit theory) , industrial relations , work (physics) , control reconfiguration , business , public relations , management , political science , engineering , economics , mechanical engineering , biochemistry , chemistry , electrical engineering , accounting , politics , law , embedded system
In recent times, the modern port has been characterised by rapid changes in work technologies and the consolidation of logistics functions. These changes signify an important recomposition of the port labour process and raise questions about the strategic location of frontline manual jobs. This research examines how these changes have played out in the A ustralian ports industry, developing the argument that a depersonalised managerial form of control is emerging with potentially challenging consequences for worker solidarity and collective organisation. The argument is that relations between port management and workers have changed significantly, with a reconfiguration of job roles, skill compositions and thus workplace power relations. It is informed by qualitative research at two A ustralian ports, exploring the organisation of work and the impact of recent technologies.