WOMEN TEACHERS, UNION AFFILIATION, AND THE FUTURE OF NORTH-AMERICAN TEACHER UNIONISM

This article considers the benefits of union affiliation and involveme nt for women teachers, for whom it has.particular importance. The arti cle interprets data derived from two studies: an exploration of the va lue of unionism to a broad range of.teachers in three secondary school s, and research on the work and motives of union-active teachers. Wome n teachers' motives for union involvement (material and security conce rns; the nature of teaching careers; and teachers' abilities to assume responsibility for policies and programs beyond the classroom), and t he gendered nature of their experiences in and around unions, offer us eful directions for the future of North American teacher unionism. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.