Znaczenie pracy emocjonalnej w wypowiedziach liderek Ogólnopolskiego Związku Zawodowego Pielęgniarek i Położnych
The significance of emotional work in statements of the All‑Polish Union of Nurses and Midwives

Author(s): Sławomira Kamińska-Berezowska
Subject(s): Sociology
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: emotional work; nurses; female trade union leaders; trade unions; employees’ problems; trade union activity
Summary/Abstract: Human labour can be analysed in terms of fulfilling human material needs or anactivity aiming at social integration and communication. Social significance of work isclosely related to its ethical aspect expressed among others through compliance withworkers’ rights protected by trade unions. The purpose of the presented analyses is topresent the perception of employees’ and trade union problems by the female leaders ofthe All‑PolishUnion of Nurses and Midwives. The discussed considerations are based onqualitative research and focus on the problems of emotions related to trade union activity,negotiating and solving employees’ problems. Due to in‑depthinterviews conductedwith the female trade union leaders in this sector it was possible to identify indicateways of dealing with the encountered employees’ problems and indicate characteristicemotions accompanying negotiations. Thus they illustrate the significance of maintainingcontrol, ‘putting on a brave face’ and treating the trade union activity as the emotionalwork. All the analyses contribute to the discussion of issues connected with labour relationsand interpersonal workplace relationships.

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