Female representation and leadership in collective bargaining

Partners of the Americas / Proyecto GEM (2025)

1. Context

Otrera collaborated with Partners of the Americas on the project “Improving Substantive Equality in the Workplace in Mexico” (GEM), funded by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). The project is part of the implementation of the 2019 Labor Reform and the USMCA, with the aim of strengthening labor rights, promoting female leadership in unions, and improving working conditions for women in strategic sectors such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and contact centers.

The consultancy sought to generate evidence on the practices and conditions that favor or limit women's participation in collective bargaining, as well as to identify good union practices that promote substantive equality in collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).

2. Objective

The purpose of the study was to analyze the incorporation of a gender perspective in collective bargaining by independent unions in sectors linked to the USMCA. The specific objectives were:

• Identify how unions have integrated measures to improve women's participation in collective bargaining processes.

• Document good practices in female leadership in independent unions.

• Formulate recommendations to strengthen labor and wage equity in collective bargaining agreements.

3. Results

A convergent mixed-methods approach was designed, based on triangulation between document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups.

The activities carried out included:

• Preliminary analysis of 15 collective bargaining agreements belonging to unions in the automotive, metalworking, aerospace, and service sectors.

• Design of the analysis framework with eleven functional dimensions (leadership, participation, equality clauses, violence prevention mechanisms, work-life balance, among others).

• Preparation of interview guides for union leaders and focus groups with female workers.

• Conducting two pilot interviews:

  • • Interior Industries Union (INISA), affiliated with the Authentic Labor Front.

    • Independent Union of 3M Workers, in San Luis Potosí.

These interviews explored the internal organization of unions, the presence of women in leadership positions, measures taken to prevent violence, and strategies for supporting female workers in situations of harassment.

4. Partial results

Although the consultancy was unable to complete all the planned stages—due to adjustments in the US Department of Labor (USDOL) funding line—substantial progress was made in the methodological design and pilot collection of qualitative information:

• A robust analytical framework was developed to examine gender equality in collective bargaining agreements.

• Validated data collection tools were developed for use in future comparative studies.

• Two interviews were conducted, providing evidence on trade union democratization processes, parity in executive committees, and mechanisms to support women workers facing workplace violence.

• Emerging cases of good practices were identified, such as the creation of equity commissions, the implementation of biannual assemblies with equal participation, and the improvement of communication channels between delegates and women workers.