Assessing Patriarchy In Labour Organizations

Abstract

The contention of this paper is that unions as male dominated institutions have failed to attract women members because of their masculine culture and insensitivity to the specific needs of women workers. The position of women as union members in the structures, programmes and leadership of four labour organizations are examined. These are the Electrical Industry Workers' Union (EIWU), the Amalgamated Union of Employees in the Government Clerical and Allied Services (AUEGCAS), the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) and the Congress of Employees Unions in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS).