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Women as the Paradigmatic Trade Unionists? New Work, New Workers and New Trade Union Strategies in Conservative Britain

Author

Listed:
  • Chris Howell

    (Oberlin College)

Abstract

The British labor movement has responded to a lengthy period of economic restructuring, state hostility and a consequent decline in union membership and influence, with a wide-ranging strategic reevaluation of the relationship between women and trade unions. It is primarily the nature of the locations in the labor market occupied by women, and not the specific interests or experience that women bring to collective organization or action at work, that has driven British union strategy. As a result, the major strategic union innovation of the past decade has been an enhanced emphasis upon legislation, as both a substitute and a support for trade union action.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris Howell, 1996. "Women as the Paradigmatic Trade Unionists? New Work, New Workers and New Trade Union Strategies in Conservative Britain," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 17(4), pages 511-543, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:17:y:1996:i:4:p:511-543
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X96174002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jill Rubery & Colette Fagan, 1995. "Comparative Industrial Relations Research: Towards Reversing the Gender Bias," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 33(2), pages 209-236, June.
    2. Diane M. Sinclair, 1995. "The Importance of Sex for the Propensity to Unionize," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 33(2), pages 173-190, June.
    3. Gregg, Paul & Wadsworth, Jonathan, 1995. "A Short History of Labour Turnover, Job Tenure, and Job Security, 1975-93," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 11(1), pages 73-90, Spring.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hazel Conley, 2014. "Trade unions, equal pay and the law in the UK," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 35(2), pages 309-323, May.

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