Turner studied at the London School of Economics before becoming a lecturer in industrial sociology.
In 1971, she became the National Woman Officer of the General and Municipal Workers' Union (GMWU), also joining the executive council of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU), and the Engineering Industry Training Board.
[1] From 1973, Turner served on the executive of the Women's National Commission, and in 1976 she joined the Central Arbitration Committee.
Around this time, she became National Industrial Officer of the GMWU, and in 1981, she was elected to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress.
In 1982/83, she was President of the CSEU, from 1985 she served on the Equal Opportunities Commission and from 1987 on the Employment Appeal Tribunal.