Women in trade unions : a study of hospital ancillary workers

This thesis is about working class women and the way in which their interests are represented in trade unions. The key argument made is that there operates a 'trade union agenda' which precludes the full representation of women's interests, even when individual members strive to have these interests represented. The study is based on empirical research with four trade union branches, two from NUPE and two from COHSE, covering ancillary workers at four NHS hospitals. The thesis stresses the importance of understanding how women's work is structured in order to investigate the role of trade unions in challenging or reproducing inequalities. It focuses on catering and cleaning workers, and therefore includes a detailed analysis of these areas of work. The research shows that this work is constructed around gender and results in women having specific interests in the workplace. It suggests that these workplace interests reflect an underlying conflict between men and women based on the hierarchical division of the labour market by sex. Throughout the study the importance of racial divisions to the development of unity or division is considered. The thesis analyses the role of local trade union branches in representing the interests of these workers, showing that unions vary in their success in this process. It argues that structural modification in unions cannot guarantee improved participation and representation of women members, although is a prerequisite. The thesis concludes that the 'trade union agenda' presents an underlying limitation to this process