Equity and Economic Restructuring in the Canadian Labour Movement

Abstract

Although the feminization of labour and of the work-force are centrally implicated in the process of economic restructuring, union discussions of strategy do not take this reality fully into account and, furthermore, in developing new strategic positions, do not appear to draw actively on the successes of union women's organizing. This article contends that feminist unionism has much to contribute to the struggle around economic restructuring. With specific reference to Canada, it considers five themes: organizing the unorganized, developing an alternative economic vision, increasing grass-roots participation in unions, playing a new kind of leadership role and, finally, building national and international coalitions and alliances.