Wright, Tessa ORCID: 0000-0002-3038-6771 , Moore, Sian and Taylor, Phil (2022) Union equality structures and the challenge of democratic legitimacy: the case of the Fire Brigades Union. Work, Employment and Society:095001702110. pp. 1-20. ISSN 0950-0170 (Print), 1469-8722 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/09500170211072796)

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Abstract

This article examines two commonly adopted trade union strategies to increase the representation of under-represented groups – first, reserved seats on union decision-making bodies and second, self-organisation, involving separate structures. It does so through the case of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), whose equality reforms were considered remarkable within the union movement and fire service due to the union’s small size and highly male-dominated, white membership. However, reserved seats at senior levels were later removed following objection on the grounds of democratic legitimacy. The article examines this decision using original data comparing UK union rules for additional representation. It exposes the tensions for small, male-dominated unions of reconciling Young’s theoretical principles of ‘group-differentiated democracy’ with the realities of perceived democratic legitimacy, and argues that progress on union equality is contingent on both the particular forms of democratic representation and the political and industrial context.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Black and Minority Ethnic (BME); equality; Fire Brigades Union (FBU); fire service; gender; lesbian; gay; bisexual and trans (LGBT); representative and participatory democracy; reserved seats; self-organisation
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Business Faculty of Business > Centre for Work and Employment Research (CREW) Faculty of Business > Centre for Work and Employment Research (CREW) > Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU) Faculty of Business > Department of Human Resources & Organisational Behaviour
Last Modified:	08 Dec 2022 13:04
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/35998

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