Preparing Union Men for Change

Abstract

Since the mid 1980's there has been a significant increase in the female membership of the Trade Union Movement internationally. However, there has been no attempt on the part of the organisation to prepare men for women's the entry into the Movement. On the other hand women have endeavoured to equip themselves for entry into the male dominated Institution. This paper therefore focuses on preparing men for the inclusion of women at the locus of power primarily within the Caribbean Trade Union Movement.

The paper begins by exploring the contributions made by women to the building and maintaining of the Movement generally, and their efforts to prepare themselves for positions of leadership and authority. It offers the Role Theory as a measurement for effort, and explores concepts that support and reject occupational segregation respectively. The experiences of union women and the consequences of their exclusion from leadership and the power relations between women and men are discussed so as to justify the need for planned change. This is followed by an exploration of the technique and methodology necessary to prepare men for the inclusion of women at the leadership level of the Caribbean trade union organisation by using the applied strategic planning process.