Work Life Experiences of Black Women Leaders in Canadian Labour Union Organizations

Abstract

The work life experiences of Black women leaders in Canadian labour union organizations (unions) are highly underresearched. Though, narratives promoted by unions indicating that unions are built on, and espouse values of, equity and fairness, fight for the rights of all their members across the table to employers and champion the rights of equity seeking groups suggest that these same principles are relevant to the experiences that Black women union leaders endure in their roles. Using the qualitative research method of phenomenology, and theoretical frameworks of critical race theory and intersectionality and everyday racism, the experiences of twenty-three Black women leaders who are currently active or were previously active (now retired) in paid or voluntary roles in Canadian unions were examined to produce knowledge about the distinctive work life experiences of Black women leaders in Canadian unions in order to make this information visible and widely available. Research findings reveal a myriad of ways that structures, policies, procedures, processes and practices disadvantage Black women union leaders primarily based on their race, and result in extremely poor, trauma-inducing and life-changing work life experiences with impacts that extend beyond the workplace.