Advancing gender equality as a potential union revitalization strategy: women's voices from Polish workplaces

Purpose In the context of debates on trade union revitalization, the article explores the potential for boosting trade union membership in Poland by reaching out to women as a target group and tailoring union agendas accordingly. Design/methodology/approach The article is based on the combination of literature review and the analysis of primary data derived from two focused group interviews within a production sector (steelworks: five informants; mattress sewing plant unit: five informants) and three in-depth interviews within the service sector (a small hotel: three informants). Findings The analysis allows to identify a number of explicitly formulated expectations and indirectly expressed needs of the female workers in the context of their collective interest representation in the three industries covered. In particular, the workers interviewed emphasized such issues as addressing the issue of the gender pay gap, improving work-life balance and increasing the representation of women in management boards. They also stressed the need to encompass more platforms for discussions and social dialogue that raise the awareness of women's needs and expectations and lead to changes in stereotypes, helping to advance gender equality in the workplace. Originality/value Based on original empirical research, the article contributes to the discussion on trade union revitalization in the context of fragmented industrial relations environment. It addresses how unions facing crisis can strategically move beyond their Fordist legacy by embedding themselves in new social contexts.