Industrial law professor Ron McCallum said it was no shock that workers questioned the relevance of unions when the ACTU failed to take on the Rudd Government.
"I am surprised that the union movement has been so silent over the slow pace of labour market reform under the Rudd Government," Professor McCallum said. "There's almost a feeling amongst union leaders that they don't want to be disloyal to the Government.
"If the Rudd Government doesn't change the unfair dismissal limitations until 2010, the Work Choices unfair dismissal law will have operated longer under the Rudd Government than the Howard government.
"There has been no change yet to the collective bargaining laws to make it easier for collective bargaining ... reform has been at a snail's pace," he said.
"Basically what the Rudd Government is doing is leaning towards business because they figure the trade unions have no one else to vote for. You have to wonder why the trade union movement worked so hard to get the Rudd Government in and get so little in return. No wonder people are asking what's the point of (unions).
"Never before has a government had so many ex-union officials in its caucus and yet keeps them silent and co-opts them in. Unions will contain their members if they stand up for workers and ask why it is the Rudd Government has been in power for six months and nothing has happened."
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