Research Project

The project “Diversity and Norwegian Trade Unions” focuses on how Norwegian trade unions learn to cope with increasing membership diversity as a result among others of labor migration. The task of the trade unions has traditionally been to further the employees’ interests at the workplace and to work towards a more equal society. Unions have an interest in issues of equality and social justice, but it is only recently that they started to talk about promoting diversity. In order for the unions to work on diversity issues they need knowledge on globalisation processes, multiculturalism and inclusion, and how such knowledge can be distributed and shared among the union’s staff and members. Understanding these phenomena is crucial in order to provide service to their members in a professional and knowledge based way. The trade union project is led by Professor Kariane Westrheim. This project, the “Knowledge Working” project and the “Education for Democracy” project will complement and feed in to each other.