Sexual Politics and Queer Activism in the Australian Trade Union Movement

Abstract

Sexual orientation ideally should not cause problems for workers, their colleagues or their employers, let alone become of interest to trade unions. However, as the contemporary trade union movement has become aware, advocating for appropriate wages and decent conditions is not enough. Trade unions are not only confronted by the effects of neoliberalism with the renewed attacks by economic capital on the social contract between citizens and the state, on industrial conditions and on organised labour. Unions also recognise that their diverse union members and potential members bring much more than their skills, knowledge and labour power to the workplace.