The Mobilisation of Social Identity? The Emergence of Equality Reps

Abstract

Simon was a shop steward in a call centre and Equality Representative (ER), who, as outlined in Chapter 1, became active in UNISON when the union responded to his experience of discrimination at work on the basis of his sexuality. His definition of his activism is reflected in the testimonies of a number of ERs — an extension of their beliefs, which they might or might not define as political, but expressed in terms of equality and/or fairness. This chapter draws upon the narratives of the activists, including 13 ERs, to ask how far social identity and/or dis­crimination in the workplace provide a basis for collective organisation and/or activism addressing what Geraldine Healy, Harriet Bradley and Nupur Mukherjee have argued is ‘a neglect of the link between collec­tivist values and gender and ethnicity’ (2004, p. 452). As part of this it explores the introduction of the Equality Rep as a new type of union activist and the potential of the ER role to facilitate a more inclusive definition of activism based upon the workplace. At the same time it considers the possibility that it may be a restricted union role encourag­ing support for individual rights at the expense of collectivism (Daniels and Mcllroy, 2009). Finally, but possibly related to this, the chapter asks how far, in the context of UNISON — a union which has led the way in terms of the self-organisation of workers — politicised and antagonis­tic languages based upon the collective mobilisation of race, gender, sexuality or disability have been redefined in terms of more abstract and individualised discourses of equality.

The way I see the union is an extension of my beliefs, whether political or not, because UNISON is all about equality and fairness. The politics side of it, I don’t really like to focus too much on the politics, I try to keep it more real and day to day as opposed to look for the bigger game of politics and all that…. My attitude on life is, as cheesy as it sounds, I treat others how I want to be treated. And this is why I like being a union rep because I feel the union is all about equality and fairness.