Energy Centre Seminar: The Fragility of Collie’s Just Transition

Can a just transition be achieved in neoliberal industrial relations contexts and if so under what circumstances? Drawing upon a study of one union effort to drive a just transition in the Western Australian energy generation sector, I aim to show that the unions made themselves agents of change. They deployed power in the pursuit of a just transition and secured wins in terms of worker participation, genuine consultation, and training packages. However, these gains are highly fragile because expectations and time pressures for transition still sit in the hands of capital and the state. In short, neoliberal frameworks are hard to escape in energy transitions. Dr Caleb Goods is a Senior Lecturer of Employment Relations in the University of Western Australia Business School. He is currently undertaking research exploring climate, work, community and just transition in the West Australian energy and resources sectors.