ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an analytical framework for understanding democratic processes within trade unions. It describes Bachrach and Baratz analytical framework of power and decision making. The chapter applies this framework to indicate how democratic processes in trade unions have tended to favour white, male members. It provides an overview of prescriptions for gender democracy and uses Bachrach and Baratz’s framework to explain how they could provide new sources of power for women and other oppressed social groups. Theories of representative and participatory democracy assume that men and women have equal opportunities to engage in the democratic process of being a representative or participating in meetings. The chapter identifies key issues in trade union democracy and made two distinctions for further analysis. It emphasizes on two main issues: implementation of the rule book commitments to gender democracy; and issues of concern to women. A further distinction was made between observable decision-making processes and non-decision-making processes.