For many women in the trade union movement, the journey begins with a moment of realisation—a moment when they see injustice and decide to act. For Charron Culnane, Napo’s national vice-chair, that moment came at a mid-point in her career. Since then, she has spent years fighting for workers’ rights and pushing for greater representation of women in trade unions. But her path into activism wasn’t always straightforward.
Charron’s first encounter with the trade union movement was not what you’d call inspiring. In fact, it was downright off-putting.
“My first experience was awful,” she recalls. “I got a job [at a newspaper] and wasn’t told it was a closed shop. The person who came round to tell me I had to join was the most arrogant, nasty person I’d ever met. So, the answer was of course no.”
It was the 1970s, and trade unions were largely male-dominated spaces that often failed to represent the concerns of women. “It really was a lads’ drinking club,” says Charron. “They had very little idea about what issues affected female staff.”
Fast forward to today, and Charron is a national vice-chair for Napo, having carved out a path in the movement that began in a student union. “I went back to school as a mature student and became really aware of the student union movement,” she explains. “By the time I got to university, I was elected as a branch chair and then as a sabbatical officer. I found that I thoroughly enjoyed helping people and shaping policy.”
Finding Role Models and Inspiration
Unlike in the male-dominated union she first encountered, the National Union of Students (NUS) was dynamic and filled with women in leadership roles. “There were women’s networks, and women were showing that they could effect change if given the opportunity,” she says. “It was a stark contrast to my earlier experience.”
But her political awareness had started much earlier. “As a child, I went on marches with my babysitter,” she recalls. “I remember being very taken with the Dagenham strike. Those women fought for equal pay, and when the Sex Discrimination Act came in, it felt like a victory. But we were – and still are – years off from real equality.”
For Charron the fight for women’s rights has never been more crucial. “We’ve seen how quickly women’s rights can be stripped away, particularly in the US,” she warns. “That’s why trade unions are more important now than ever.”
From Member to National Officer
Charron’s signed up for Napo membership for practical reasons: “I joined on my first day in the office because I wanted the Probation Journal. It was a brilliant professional resource, and I needed it for my studies.” In a true full circle moment, Charron now finds herself sitting on the Board for the Probation Journal.
But before long, she found herself stepping into activism. “I never intended to be an activist,” she admits. “But then I became a student rep. Later, when I needed advice about my worsening arthritis, I discovered we didn’t have a disabled staff liaison rep in my branch. When I asked why not, they said, ‘Do you want to do it?’ And that was that.”
From there, her involvement grew. She became London Branch’s anti-racism and equal rights officer for two terms, served as vice-chair, and later co-chaired the London Branch for four years – including during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We kept the branch running over Teams, and that was an amazing feeling.”
Facing Gender Barriers Head-On
Charron admits to having faced gender-based barriers throughout her career. “Policies are often written from a patriarchal viewpoint,” she says. “But probation is 70% women – yet that isn’t reflected when you look at management levels.”
She points out a stark reality: “Men seem to get promoted faster. I don’t know if it’s because they put themselves forward more, or if women are less forthcoming. But either way, it shows we haven’t reached true equality yet.”
This inequality could also be a reason why pay in the probation service is so low she suggests: “The probation service is very female staff heavy and pay is appalling. I just wonder if pay would be as bad if we were male dominant and I don’t think it would be.”
Women trade unionists also bring a different perspective to the negotiating table, she argues. “We tend to take a more holistic approach, rather than a blinkered, rigid one. Take sickness policies, for example – they’re often structured around issuing warnings first, instead of asking why someone is unwell and how we can support them. It’s not about emotion over logic – it’s about smart, long-term thinking.”
She points to Napo’s role in securing policies on menopause support as an example of progress. “It’s a win for everyone, not just women. Keeping skilled workers in their roles should be the priority, rather than discarding them when they need support.”
The Future of Women in Trade Unions
Looking ahead, Charron is focused on making the trade union movement more inclusive for younger women. “Women in Napo provides a safe space for women to discuss the issues that affect them, but we need to do more to engage the next generation.”
Her advice to young women considering union activism? “Get involved. Don’t be afraid to speak up. The movement needs you.”
Charron’s journey from reluctant union member to national officer is a testament to how much progress has been made – and how much further there is to go. And if her story proves anything, it’s that women in trade unions aren’t just shaping the conversation – they’re leading it.
