Catalysts for equality: how unions and collective bargaining are shaping gender segregation in Chilean organisations

Abstract This study explores the influence of industrial relations (IR) actors and institutions, particularly collective bargaining (CB) and unions, on gender segregation in Chilean organisations. Drawing on data from the Chilean Labour Survey (ENCLA) from 2011 to 2019, the research constructs three segregation indices using the ‘Duncan Dissimilarity Index’ to analyse disparities in wages, contracts and occupational levels. Generalised linear models reveal that firm-level CB is significantly associated with reduced gender pay and contractual segregation, while firm-level unions primarily influence contractual segregation, highlighting their relevance in promoting gender equity in contract types. However, neither unions nor CB impacts gender vertical occupational segregation, likely due to systemic constraints within Chile’s labour market. These insights offer a fresh perspective on how IR actors and institutions can act as catalysts for equality, crafting regulatory environments that promote gender equality at the organisational level, even within a neoliberal context where unions are limited to firm-level organising and bargaining.