ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the alliances with a particular focus on women's experiences of the labour market, their campaigns to improve their rights and working conditions and the effectiveness or otherwise of policy interventions and public spending decisions. It also reflects on historical evidence of women's unequal treatment in the world of work and the importance of women's activism, including in trade unions. Ailsa McKay was a welcome visitor and speaker at the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) annual Women's Conferences. A key common interest was the impact of the great recession on women in Scotland and work on this issue with Ailsa and the Women in Scotland's Economy (WiSE) Research Centre was a two-way exchange. The childcare sector is part of what is sometimes described as the five Cs caring, cleaning, cooking, and clerical and checkout all areas in which women dominate. Women make to the economy and to society through paid and unpaid work will bring benefits for all.
