معرفی
Dr. Ruth Barton is a Senior Lecturer in Management at the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics (University of Tasmania). Her research focuses on labour, trade unions, industrial regeneration, and deindustrialisation, with a particular emphasis on North West Tasmania. She has held academic positions at RMIT and Monash Universities, and previously worked in the trade union movement and Telstra. She currently serves as Secretary of the Tasmanian NTEU Division.
Education:
- PhD in Management (Monash University, 2001–2005)
- MComm in Human Resource Management/Employment Relations (University of Melbourne, 1996–1997)
- MA in History (University of Tasmania, 1984–1990)
- BA (Hons) in History/Sociology (University of Tasmania, 1978–1981)
Research Interests: Dr. Barton examines how trade unions adapt to industrial decline and drive regional regeneration. Her work explores narratives of place, collective bargaining dynamics across nations, and the socio-economic impacts of deindustrialisation. Recent projects include studies on APPM worker housing in Burnie and multinational bargaining strategies in Tasmania’s vegetable processing industry.
Research Trends: Her publications analyze corporate restructuring, union agency in globalised industries, and historical labour dynamics. Key themes include regional lock-in theory, spatial union strategies, and the interplay between state policies and union power.
Awards & Grants:
- $485,000 ARC Discovery Grant (2014–2016) for Trade Unions and Industrial Regeneration in North West Tasmania
- €38,580 ESCP Europe Grant (2018–2020) on collective bargaining equity
Supervision & Grants: She has supervised three HDR students to completion and actively engages in collaborative projects with Canadian researchers and the Burnie Historical Society. Her administrative roles include Workloads Committee membership and discipline leadership.
Labs/Teams: Collaborates with international researchers on projects linking labour history, spatial economics, and union strategies. Active in the Burnie Historical Society’s digital walking trail initiative.
