Bariery kobiecej i męskiej aktywności w ruchu związkowym na przykładzie branży górniczej*

Restructurisation of traditional industrial areas which took place during the last 20 years is an effect of systemic transformation that resulted mainly from pressures exerted by Solidarity trade union. Thus trade union movement can be treated as a significant factor influencing the character of rules governing the labour market as well as an essential form of social capital activation being the basis for full development of human potential. However, trade union activity is varied due to the gender issue so the women’s presence in unions is limited. Thus in this sense, only one woman participated in the round table talks, despite the fact that the talks concerned the ways transformation in the society consisting of two sexes. Similarly, all the management boards of trade unions founded after 1989 were dominated by men although problems related to work and labour market concern both sexes. The reason for this and identifying barriers encountered by women in trade union activity as well as the problems faced by them on the labour market in mining are main issues analysed in this paper based on quality empirical research. The research is a case study of trade unions in hard coal mining and brown coal mining. It is also an attempt to compare experience and perception typical of representatives of Silesian and Łódź voivodeships respectively. The paper is also a partial report on research conducted as a part of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education grant devoted to the issues of sex equality. Also, it analyses varied experiences of males and females related to their participation in trade union movement