There are no other books with the same balance of theory and practice which focus on the UK and European context The content is thematically organised around key labour market, organisational and human resources issues related to equality and diversity New coverage of topical areas such as female representation on executive boards, religious diversity, and economic migration following EU enlargement This book provides up-to-date case studies and discussion questions for use in seminars PowerPoint slides will be available for lecturers

Reflecting the increased attention to gender and women in the field of employment relations, there is now a growing international literature on women and trade unions. The interest in women as trade unionists arises partly from the fact that women comprise 40 percent of trade union membership in the USA and over 50 percent in the UK. Further, despite considerable overall union membership decline in both the UK and USA, more women than men are joining unions in both countries. Recognition of the importance of women to the survival and revival of trade union movements has in many cases produced an unprecedented commitment to equality and inclusion at the highest level. Yet the challenge is to ensure that this commitment is translated to action and improves the experience of women in their union and in their workplace. Gender and Leadership in Trade Unions explores and evaluates the similarities and differences in equality strategies pursued by unions in the US and the UK. It assesses the conditions experienced by women union members and how these impact on their leadership, both potential and actual. Women have made gains in both countries within union leadership and decision-making structures, however, climbing the ladder to leadership positions remains far from a smooth process. In the trade union context, women face multiple barriers that resonate with the barriers facing aspiring women leaders in other organizational contexts, including the gendered division of domestic work; the organization and nature of women's work; the organization and nature of trade union work and the masculine culture of trade unions. The discussion of women trade union leaders is situated more broadly within debates on governance, leadership and democracy within social justice activism.

In what will be essential reading for all industrial relations scholars, Gill Kirton considers the social construction of women's trade union participation in the context of male dominated trade unions. Exploring the making and progress of women's trade union careers, this book locates the issues within the context of their experiences of three interlocking social institutions - the union, work and family. The book examines how and why women embark on trade union careers, the social processes which shape women's gender and union identities and the combined influences of union/work/family contexts on the trajectory of women's union careers. Additionally, the book offers a historical overview of the development of women's trade union education and separate organizing, with original analysis and historical data.

A comprehensive and critical review of the global scholarly literature on diversity, this book presents findings from original UK-based research involving in-depth organizational case studies, interviews, observation and documentary data from over fifty organizations. Analyzing the findings from the perspective of key stakeholder groups - diversity practitioners, line-managers, trade union equality officers, workplace trade union representatives and employees, it addresses a range of questions, including: How is the diversity concept developing in the UK? Has the UK deconstructed and reconstructed the diversity concept to fit with the legal, social and economic context of UK organizations? How are organizations in the public and private sectors responding in practical terms to the diversity concept? What is the legacy of the traditional equal opportunity concept? What are the experiences of different organizational stakeholders of diversity management? Whose interests does diversity management serve? Looking at many of the weaknesses associated with more traditional equal opportunity policy approaches, this book is excellent reading for all students of international business, entrepreneurship and small businesses.

Reflecting the increased attention to gender and women in the field of employment relations, there is now a growing international literature on women and trade unions. The interest in women as trade unionists arises partly from the fact that women comprise 40 percent of trade union membership in the USA and over 50 percent in the UK. Further, despite considerable overall union membership decline in both the UK and USA, more women than men are joining unions in both countries. Recognition of the importance of women to the survival and revival of trade union movements has in many cases produced an unprecedented commitment to equality and inclusion at the highest level. Yet the challenge is to ensure that this commitment is translated to action and improves the experience of women in their union and in their workplace.

Gender and Leadership in Trade Unions explores and evaluates the similarities and differences in equality strategies pursued by unions in the US and the UK. It assesses the conditions experienced by women union members and how these impact on their leadership, both potential and actual. Women have made gains in both countries within union leadership and decision-making structures, however, climbing the ladder to leadership positions remains far from a smooth process. In the trade union context, women face multiple barriers that resonate with the barriers facing aspiring women leaders in other organizational contexts, including the gendered division of domestic work; the organization and nature of women s work; the organization and nature of trade union work and the masculine culture of trade unions. The discussion of women trade union leaders is situated more broadly within debates on governance, leadership and democracy within social justice activism.

A comprehensive and critical review of the global scholarly literature on diversity, this book presents findings from original UK-based research involving in-depth organizational case studies, interviews, observation and documentary data from over fifty organizations. Analyzing the findings from the perspective of key stakeholder groups - diversity practitioners, line-managers, trade union equality officers, workplace trade union representatives and employees, it addresses a range of questions, including: How is the diversity concept developing in the UK? Has the UK deconstructed and reconstructed the diversity concept to fit with the legal, social and economic context of UK organizations? How are organizations in the public and private sectors responding in practical terms to the diversity concept? What is the legacy of the traditional equal opportunity concept? What are the experiences of different organizational stakeholders of diversity management? Whose interests does diversity management serve? Looking at many of the weaknesses associated with more traditional equal opportunity policy approaches, this book is excellent reading for all students of international business, entrepreneurship and small businesses.

This book brings together the latest European and North American research on a series of key topics in the field of women's employment. Drawing on published and easily accessible statistics, it sets the topics in the appropriate policy contexts and systematically appraises them from the viewpoint of the challenges for the management of human resources. The book explores: occupational segregation the pay gap work-life balance part-time working women, work and pensions women in professional occupations equality and diversity management women and trade unions. This is a highly useful book suitable for a wide range of courses including business studies, sociology, social policy and gender studies.

This book brings together the latest European and North American research on a series of key topics in the field of women's employment. Drawing on published and easily accessible statistics, it sets the topics in the appropriate policy contexts and systematically appraises them from the viewpoint of the challenges for the management of human resources. The book explores: occupational segregation the pay gap work-life balance part-time working women, work and pensions women in professional occupations equality and diversity management women and trade unions. This is a highly useful book suitable for a wide range of courses including business studies, sociology, social policy and gender studies.

In what will be essential reading for all industrial relations scholars, Gill Kirton considers the social construction of women's trade union participation in the context of male dominated trade unions. Exploring the making and progress of women's trade union careers, this book locates the issues within the context of their experiences of three interlocking social institutions - the union, work and family. The book examines how and why women embark on trade union careers, the social processes which shape women's gender and union identities and the combined influences of union/work/family contexts on the trajectory of women's union careers. Additionally, the book offers a historical overview of the development of women's trade union education and separate organizing, with original analysis and historical data.