by Paula Määttä

E. The role of the social partners

Unions represent less than 20 per cent of the labour force. Unions in the United States are not as powerful in national politics as they are in many other countries. Because of this, their ability to influence equal pay policy is confined for the most part to collective bargaining, supporting litigation, and lobbying for equal pay legislation. Unions have also been concerned with wage grades based on notions of value. Some unions have succeeded to rearrange a hierarchy of jobs. This has enabled them to focus on the principle of equal pay, particularly in relation to the public sector. (Bellace 1993, p. 171.)

Many unions have carried out publicity campaigns to show that women will benefit from stronger equality measures under union representation. Most unions have attempted to publicize comparable worth issues and to organise the unorganised service sector workers - most of whom are women. Occupational and industrial distribution explains, in part, why women are not organised. Women tend to be concentrated in occupations and forms of employment, such as part-time work, that unions have traditionally found difficult to organise. (ILO, 19-23 Nov. 1990, p. 70; Bellace 1993, p. 171.)

Many unions have their own womens departments to investigate the obstacles encountered by women in obtaining equal treatment in trade union affairs. They organise conferences and meetings for women trade unionists. These departments try to incorporate demands for equality into collective bargaining and agreements, and strive to improve measures to promote equality and protect womens interests. Trade unions have organised training courses for women to encourage them to take a more active role in their organisations. (ILO, 19-23 Nov 1990, pp. 74-76.)

At the beginning of the 1980s, the local branches of the American Federation of State, County or Municipal Employees (AFSCME) took the initiative to demand that AFSCME request extra money during collective bargaining for women earning less than men doing equal jobs. In 1987,AFSCME negotiated around 250 million dollars for women in pay adjustments. It has also taken cases to court, the most notable legal action being the lawsuit against the State of Washington, which resulted in over 100 million dollars in pay equity adjustments for 35000 employees. (ILO, 19-23 Nov 1990, p. 77.)