The Power of Informal Equality Alliances: How trade union equality reps influence the workplace equality agenda

Seminar abstract

Trade union equality representatives (ERs) are volunteer (unpaid) workplace representatives who act as sources of specialist support and advice on equality and diversity issues.

This presentation will share the findings of a research project that explored the avenues through which ERs are able to influence the equality practices of employers.

The findings highlight how ERs use a hitherto unrecognised avenue for employee voice - the informal equality alliance. Informal equality alliances are mutually beneficial relationships that can develop between ERs and senior level organisational representatives who are championing equality and diversity on behalf of an employer.

Through the formation of such alliances, ERs report being able give voice and suggest solutions to workplace discrimination issues across a range of equality areas.

How to attend this seminar

This seminar is free to attend with no need to register in advance,

We welcome you to join this seminar online on Wednesday 3 November 2021 at 12pm

We encourage you to share this seminar with friends, colleagues and classmates.

Speaker bio

Dr Joyce Mamode is an Early Career Researcher, currently teaching at the School of Business, Economics and Informatics at Birkbeck, University of London.

Her research interests centre around workplace equality and diversity and the role of employee voice in effecting organisational change.

Joyce’s research into trade union equality representatives was the subject of her PhD thesis, completed part-time at the University of Warwick.