Women, Work and Trade Unions / Edition 1

by Anne Munro

Overview

This study focuses on working-class women, catering and cleaning workers, and the way their interests were presented in trade unions. It argues that there is an institutional bias within trade unions which precludes the full representation of women's interests. Based on empirical research into two trade unions in the National Health Service, the book stresses the importance of how women's work is structured, in order to investigate the role of trade unions in challenging or reproducing inequalities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780720123289
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/02/1999
Series:	Routledge Studies in Employment and Work Relations in Context
Pages:	222
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Part 1 The context: women in trade unions - the debates and literature; divisions in the labour market and trade unionism; working in the health service - hospital work/hospital unions. Part 2 Women's ancillary work: catering and cleaning; gender and the construction of work; race and the construction of work. Part 3 Ancillary workers: trade unions; workplace stewards; union meetings; representation in local union structures; participation in local union structures; conclusions - continuity and change.

Editorial Reviews

This study focuses on women in cleaning and catering jobs with the National Health Service to investigate working class women and the ways in which their interests are developed, articulated, and represented by trade unions. Munro (sociology, University College, Northampton, UK) argues that unions maintain a bias that excludes women by not placing importance on issues specific to women workers, such as child care. She also inquires into the development of racialized gender roles, specifically how the types of work result in interests which are differentiated by race and gender. Distributed by Continuum. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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