WOMEN AS THE PARADIGMATIC TRADE-UNIONISTS - NEW WORK, NEW WORKERS ANDNEW TRADE-UNION STRATEGIES IN CONSERVATIVE BRITAIN

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