Women workers and trade union participation in Scotland 1919-1939
This thesis seeks to provide an assessment of womenâs work, their participation in the trade union movement and the extent of womenâs strike activity n Scotland in the period 1919-1939. It will highlight the position of women in the labour market, their continuing confinement to a narrow range of industries and occupations and the low paid and low status nature of their work. The weakness of trade union organisation among women workers in the inter-war period will be an important consideration. It will be shown that despite the massive influx of women in to the trade unions in the First World War and the attempts by trade unions and the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) to encourage greater numbers of women into the trade union movement, organisation among women in most industries remained weak throughout the entirety of the inter-war period. Therefore, this thesis will seek to offer a number of explanations for the lack of extensive trade union organisation among women during this period. These will include the occupational and industrial distribution of women workers, their low earnings, the impact of the depression, high unemployment and the failure of the General Strike. However, it will also be
Arnot, Julie
HC Economic History and Conditions
Women workers and trade union participation in Scotland 1919-1939. This thesis seeks to provide an assessment of womenâs work, their participation in the trade union movement and the extent of womenâs strike activity n Scotland in the period 1919-1939. It will highlight the position of women in the labour market, their continuing confinement to a narrow range of industries and occupations and the low paid and low status nature of their work. The weakness of trade union organisation among women workers in the inter-war period will be an important consideration. It will be shown that despite the massive influx of women in to the trade unions in the First World War and the attempts by trade unions and the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) to encourage greater numbers of women into the trade union movement, organisation among women in most industries remained weak throughout the entirety of the inter-war period. Therefore, this thesis will seek to offer a number of explanations for the lack of extensive trade union organisation among women during this period. These will include the occupational and industrial distribution of women workers, their low earnings, the impact of the depression, high unemployment and the failure of the General Strike. However, it will also be
women worker trade_union participation scotland seek_provide assessment woman_work participation trade_union movement extent woman strike activity scotland period highlight position_woman labour_market continue confinement narrow range industry occupation low pay low_status nature work weakness trade_union organisation among_woman worker inter_war_period important consideration show despite massive influx woman trade_union first_world_war attempt trade_union scottish union congress encourage great_number woman trade_union movement organisation among_woman industry remain weak throughout entirety inter_war_period therefore_seek offer number explanation lack extensive trade_union organisation among_woman period include occupational industrial distribution woman worker low impact depression high unemployment failure general strike however_also