FLEXIBLE LABOUR MARKET WOMEN’S VOICES & TRADE UNIONS Trade Union Skillnet.
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Transcript of FLEXIBLE LABOUR MARKET WOMEN’S VOICES & TRADE UNIONS Trade Union Skillnet.
Labour Force QNHS Q1 2012
In Employment 1,786,100
Employees 1,485,600
Self Employed 289,400
Unemployed rate 14.7%
Labour Force QNHS Q1 2012
Employees 1,485,600:
Women 769,200 (52%)
Men 716,400 (48%)
Self employed 80% male
Gender Pay Gap
Latest official data published 2011 from 2009, CSO NES
Average gross hourly earnings
12.8% pay gap
GAP /Economic Sector NES 2009/QNHS_Q12012
EMPLOYED
Professional 32.4% 36,000 / 59,000
Finance 29.4% 54,000 / 46,000
Education 26.6% 192,000 / 45,000
950,000 Non Members
Rapid increase in SMIs/service industries
Surge in worker exploitation
Flexibilisation of labour market
Declining Union Density
Erosion of Union Strength
Union Membership
568,525 Members (Congress)
289,466 Women (51%)
279,059 Men (49%)
Density
Number of employees 1,485,000
Congress members 568,525
Congress density 38% ROI.
Estimated all members 39.5%
Employees /Union Membership 1993/2012CSO QHNS/Congress
1,728 1,7611,618 1570 15141485
627 638 623 605 594
881 916 964 9641,017
1,2811,401 1,4421,453
1,564
487 496 497 514 534 542 553 567 597 605628
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Age Profile & Union Density ROI
Age Group
% Union Members2008
% Union Members2009
60-64 42% 43%
45-59 48% 47%
35-44 36% 37%
25-34 26% 27%
20-24 17% 16%
15-19 5% 4%
Economic Sectors and Union Density CSO National Employment Survey
Density levels highest in:Education 70%Public Administration & Defence 66% Health & Social Work 61%. Transport, Storage and Comms 58% Financial Intermediation 40%Wholesale and Retail 34%
Union density lowest in:Hotels & Restaurants 9%. Business Services 14%Other Services 15%.
In Excess Of Three Hundred Thousand Workers Experiencing Extremely Low Pay
•Wholesale and Retail•Hotels and Restaurants•Business Services•Other Services•Construction …
…Employed in sectors with low union density
We Face Major Challenges» Unemployment & underemployment» Erosion of social supports » ‘Competitive devaluation’» Pay thresholds under attack» Persistent pay gaps» Two tiered workforce: ‘Secure’ and ‘Precarious’» Erosion of labour standards – rise of inequality &
discrimination …
See greater benefit than men in terms of:
» Providing job security;» protecting & furthering terms & conditions;» Improving pay;» Progressing legal rights;» Providing advice and information
But feel less sense of pride in Union…
However, are more likely than men to positively promote union membership
Those researched valued their membership – though not totally satisfied with performance
But they are passively rather than proactively involved
Want unions to be powerful and are open to initiatives that can engage individual members in securing success
Engaging
Want To See:
» Better promotion of what union does;» More engagement with them through work
events;» Active promotion of principles fairness/
solidarity;» Better address the issues they are concerned
about
Importantly…
Shop Steward/Workplace Rep
Over 50% of those undertaking key union role of local representative/shop steward are
women
But not progressing through the democraticstructures to leadership roles
10% Leadership (officials) WomenAn improvement on just 4% three years ago!
30% Congress Executive (minimum quota provides for 24%)
1/3rd Union Officials
85% Administrative positions
Snapshot Women in TUs …
Significant disconnect between union members and their organisations
There is little knowledge or awareness of the union organisation ‘above’ the workplace
Challenges Connecting (QUALITATIVE RESEARCH/AMARACH)
Gender Balance Critical to Advancing TU Agenda
» Modernising
» Organising
» Achieving an equal society