From corporatist consensus to neo-liberal revolution: a gendered analysis of the hotel workers union and its impact on (un)sustainable employment practices in the New Zealand hotel sector, 1955–2000

Abstract

This paper takes a critical, historical employment relations approach to present an original contribution to research on sustainable tourism employment. The research is focussed on a gendered analysis of (un)sustainable employment practices in the New Zealand tourist hotel sector from 1950 to 2000, specifically concentrating on the role of the Hotel Workers Union and the broader post-war corporatist and neo-liberal economic, political and social policies that affected tourism work during this period. After presenting a detailed historical narrative in the findings, the paper argues that by uncovering the influences of global, national and organisation level change on sustainable labour we can gain meaningful, new perspectives on employment in this sector.

Keywords:

• Critical historical employment relations
• unions
• corporatist
• sustainable tourist labour
• gender

Additional information

Funding

No funding or details or disclosures are required for this paper.

Notes on contributors

David Williamson

David Williamson is a senior lecturer in the School of Hospitality and Tourism, Auckland University of Technology. He spent 18 years working in the hospitality industry as a bar and hotel manager and restaurateur. His research interests include work, employment and labour market issues in hospitality and tourism. David is a member of the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute and the New Zealand Work Research Institute. David completed his PhD in 2017, a history of employment relations in the New Zealand hotel sector, 1955–2000.

Candice Harris

Candice Harris is a professor of management in the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). She has held leadership roles including associate dean academic (acting). At present her primary role is as head of the Management Department at AUT. Candice has published over 140 refereed academic outputs, including 50 journal articles. Her main areas of research are careers, gendered experiences of work (paid and unpaid) and advancement, media representations and discourses of work, and qualitative and critical approaches to research.