International Women's Day 'South Asian Women Industrial Militants from Grunwick to Great Gourmet': A seminar sponsored by the Centre of Research in Economic Sociology and Innovation 

Abstract

From labour movement heroes to labour movement has-beens: At the time of the Grunwick strike (1976-78) the Asian women workers were the darlings of the British labour movement- supported and feted through the long summer of mass picketing in which dockers, miners and broad sections of the trade unionists and other left political activists took part. But in 2005, when Asian women working in airline food preparation at Heathrow for Gate Gourmet protested against their working conditions and management, the labour movement quietly buried their protests.

This paper will explore some of the similarities and differences between the two disputes and how and why they have a different place in British labour history. It will also discuss the resources produced for communities and schools as a follow on from the original AHRC funded project: www.striking-women.org

Biography

Professor Emeritus Ruth Pearson is a feminist development economist and activist, specialising in women’s employment and rights in the global economy. She has researched and written widely and is a member of the UK Women’s Budget Group, HomeWorkers Worldwide, and Women Against Fundamentalism. Her publications include:

Pearson, R.; Danloy, C.; Razavi, S. (eds.) (2004) Globalization, Export-Orientated Employment and Social Policy: Gendered Connections. Palgrave.

Pearson, R. (2005) The Rise and Rise of Gender and Development. In: Uma Kothari (ed.) A radical history of development studies: individuals, institutions and ideologies, Zed Books, pp.157-179.

Pearson, R. (2007) Beyond women workers: Gendering Corporate Social Responsibility. Third World Quarterly, 28(4), pp.731-749.

Thursday 12 March 2015, from 4.00pm to 5.30pm, Department of Sociology,  room 6.345 followed by a drinks reception.

All are welcome to attend.