From corporatist consensus to neo-liberal revolution: a gendered analysis of the hotel workers union and its impact on (un)sustainable employment practices in the New Zealand hotel sector, 1955-2000

This paper takes a critical, historical employment relations approach to present an original contribution to research on sustainable tourism employment. The research is focussed on a gendered analysis of (un)sustainable employment practices in the New Zealand tourist hotel sector from 1950 to 2000, specifically concentrating on the role of the Hotel Workers Union and the broader post-war corporatist and neo-liberal economic, political and social policies that affected tourism work during this period. After presenting a detailed historical narrative in the findings, the paper argues that by uncovering the influences of global, national and organisation level change on sustainable labour we can gain meaningful, new perspectives on employment in this sector.

Automated summary

This paper offers an original contribution to research on sustainable tourism employment by taking a critical, historical employment relations approach. Focused on a gendered analysis of (un)sustainable employment practices in the New Zealand tourist hotel sector during the period 1950-2000, the paper emphasizes the influences of global, national, and organization-level changes on sustainable labor in the industry, providing meaningful new perspectives on employment in this sector.