Trade Union Diversity, Leadership, and Change

Examining the experiences of leadership among trade unionists in a range of unions and labor movements around the world, this volume addresses perspectives of women and men from a range of identities such as race/ethnicity, sexuality, and age. It analyses existing models of leadership in various political organizational forms, especially trade unions, but also including business and management approaches, leadership forms which arise from fields such as community, pedagogy, and the third sector.

This book analyzes and critiques concepts, expectations, and experiences of union leaders and leadership in labor organizations, while comparing gender and cultural perspectives. Contributors to the volume draw on empirical research to identify key ideas, beliefs and experiences which are critical to achieving change, setting up resistance, and transforming the inertia of traditionalism.

Sue Ledwith works mainly in the field of gender and trade unions. Currently a Leverhulme Emeritus scholarship holder, she works with Global Labour University Masters programme graduate trade unionists, especially those in Brazil and South Africa. She is co-editor of Women in Organisations: challenging gender politics (1996) and Gender, Diversity and Trade Unions: International Perspectives (2002/7, Routledge).

Lise Lotte Hansen is a cultural sociologist, a Ph.D., and an associate professor in the Department of Society and Globalization, Roskilde University. She works in the broad field of gender and labour markets. At the present she is researching gender, diversity, democracy and solidarity politics in Danish trade unions.