The Coalition has accused the Labor Party of being too union-heavy, saying that up to 70% of its MPs are former union bosses. Industrial Relations Minister Joe Hckey said that unions were ‘irrelevant’ to Australian workers, and declared their role to be ‘essentially over’ becasue of declining membership.

What do you think – do you think unions in Australia are irrelevant? Or is there still a place for them? Do you care that the Labor party has ties to the union movement?

High profile asbestos campaigner Bernie Banton certainly believes unions are still relevant. He says that without the unions, he would not have been able to successfully secure $1.4 billion compensation from construction giant James Hardie, on behalf of asbestos sufferers. Joe Hockey later conceded that unions are relevant in cases like that, when they work for the interest of their members. But union membership has fallen to include only 20 per cent of Australian workers. Mr Hockey says workers are now getting protection from the Workplace Authority and the Workplace Ombudsman.

Are you a member of a union? Has it helped you resolve a workplace dispute? Or do you agree with the minister that unions are irrelevant? Tell us what you think.