Skip to main content

Queering the Canadian labour movement: LGBTQ2S+ advocacy within the British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU)

Thesis type
(Thesis) M.A.
Date created
2021-07-20
Authors/Contributors
Abstract
This thesis presents findings and analysis drawn from semi-structured qualitative interviews with eleven members, staff, and leaders within the BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) on their understandings and experiences of LGBTQ2S+ advocacy within the union. I situate this data within a critical framework that draws together concepts of social unionism and queer theory, asking how accessibility and power is understood in these literatures. The data reveals that LGBTQ2S+ specific education and training is needed within the BCGEU, that the BCGEU needs a LGBTQ2S+ advocate, and the structure of the union must become more accessible to increase more meaningful involvement from diverse workers, including LGBTQ2S+ workers. I conclude by emphasizing the need for more research in this area, particularly in the Canadian labour movement, and offer suggestions on how to ensure future research accounts for diverse perspectives.
Document
Identifier
etd21505
Copyright statement
Copyright is held by the author(s).
Permissions
This thesis may be printed or downloaded for non-commercial research and scholarly purposes.
Supervisor or Senior Supervisor
Thesis advisor: Muller Myrdahl, Tiffany
Thesis advisor: Leung, Helen Hok-Sze
Language
English
Download file Size
input_data\21607\etd21505.pdf 3.05 MB

Views & downloads - as of June 2023

Views: 36
Downloads: 0