Women’s Three Working Lives and Trade-Union Participation

Abstract

Over the past twenty years, as the old male-dominated heavy industries have declined, so women’s employment in the service sector has increased. Their membership in the trade unions has grown even faster; but their participation, always very low, has changed little. Unions, which subscribe to democratic values, are somewhat embarrassed by this (Fryer et al., 1974; 1978; Harrison, 1969). Considerable effort has been made to encourage women to participate. Union literature and education programmes have been designed specially for women. Women’s advisory committees have been set up and a modicum of positive discrimination has been introduced. Yet, as paid officials and lay officers, men continue to dominate at local and at national level.