I believe unions could once again become very relevant, if they but morphed into contract labour hire firms? As contract Labour only, contractors/hire firms, they could preserve the rights and working conditions, salary entitlements of their workers.
They could also act to undercut, compete with any contract hire firm that didn't, until or at least until they put them out of business! And then replaced them at any work site/station, with punitive rates, for legitimate unionised workers!
In other words, act to protect their own people, positions and power by expediency, and or whatever means necessary!
If they are to morph into labour hire firms, it needs to be sooner rather than later, while they still have both the numbers, industrial muscle, and or, virtual control of critical sites.
[Power provision control or maintainable phone links etc. Ports, road and rail?]
Plus the finances and employment pools to seize the day!
As a group of like-minded affiliates, they could cooperate to decidedly disadvantage any small independent competition, and or, simply put them out of business?
After all, that is how, dog eat dog capitalism works? If you can't beat em, join em?
Rhrosty.

There are some useful ideas in this article.

One worrying example is the NSW Teachers' Federation. It's paired with the NSW Department of Education and both are tremendous obstacles to progress.
It was in NSW that we saw the worst of the Building the Education Revolution mess. Large firms went bust. The buildings are often hopelessly inadequate- at least, the ones controlled by the Education Dept.
What did the Teachers Federation say? Nothing.

Instead the union spouts slogans. Public Education slogans adorn most State schools. It's the pet project of someone in the union and woe betide anyone who criticises it.

Unions have proved hugely useful. But their thinking is ideological. Their language is often obscure.
Union leaders liven their own protective bubble- as we see with some health services unions. Union leaders are captive to key interests and are often fond of a bunch of fashionable causes.
It's a shame because as the authors say- they could contribute so much

Unions could play a huge role again if they divorced the ALP & remain single. There is a need for unions but they need to be there for the worker & not for a political party.
Otherwise and, as has been the case in the past 40 years, they will be parasitical & of not much use to anyone.

Will the business end of town, also divorce themselves from the Coalition. Pigs might fly!!

Kipp,
What a pointless quip. If the Unions played their role with just an ounce of integrity, big business would have no choice but fall into line. Once businesses see that their efforts aren't wasted they'd very quickly adapt. Adapting is in business's interest. Being constantly screwed by bureaucracy isn't.