Public service trade unions and employment relations in a context of crisis. The cases of NHS nursing and midwifery

This project investigates the influence of public sector trade unions on employment relations in context of two highly feminised and persistently understaffed healthcare occupations, nursing and midwifery, currently operating within an NHS crisis which has various equality implications. It builds on the investigators’ previous research on public sector unions’ responses to restructuring and outsourcing (Guillaume and Kirton 2017a, 2017b), women’s participation within professional unions (Kirton, 2015), workplace gender equality and diversity. This project carried out in conjunction with the two main unions (Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and Royal College of Midwives (RCM)), utilises multiple methods to examine union activities and member experiences in relation to NHS staff recruitment and retention policies, working conditions and career prospects (including migrant workers in context of Brexit); policies related to equality, diversity and discrimination in healthcare workplaces. It will also consider union members’ expectations towards their union both as union and professional association.