Facilitating Productive Workplace Cooperation: a case study of Sydney Water and the ASU Water Division

This case study is part of a larger project led by independent researchers and supported by the Fair Work Commission. This case study uses extracts from this project’s report and the 19 in-depth interviews which were conducted in August and October 2014. Sydney Water has experienced a remarkable transformation in workplace relations from conflict and intense adversarialism to highly productive cooperation. The turning point was a dramatic change in approach by both management and the main union during enterprise bargaining in late 2012, followed by a series of initiatives after the enterprise agreement was completed. The Fair Work Commission (Commission) played an important part in this transformation, contributing in a number of ways, both conventional and highly innovative.