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Organizing across divides: Union challenges to precarious work in Vancouver’s privatized health care sector

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  • Jennifer Jihye Chun

    (Department of Sociology, University of Toronto Scarborough Toronto, Canada)

Abstract

The outsourcing of housekeeping, laundry and food services in Vancouver’s health care sector has created a new tier of low-paid, precariously employed workers in the private sector, the majority of whom are immigrants and women of colour. Through an in-depth case study of the Hospital Employees Union (HEU), this article examines how movement-oriented union strategies, such as living wage campaigns (LWCs), enable unions to challenge the nexus between social and economic disadvantage. My findings show that alternative union models promote inclusive forms of class solidarity; however, unions must contend with internal conflicts that divide workers along racial–ethnic boundaries and employment status.

Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer Jihye Chun, 2016. "Organizing across divides: Union challenges to precarious work in Vancouver’s privatized health care sector," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 16(2), pages 173-188, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:prodev:v:16:y:2016:i:2:p:173-188
    DOI: 10.1177/1464993415623132
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Janice Fine, 2007. "A Marriage Made in Heaven? Mismatches and Misunderstandings between Worker Centres and Unions," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 45(2), pages 335-360, June.
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    3. Standing, Guy, 1989. "Global feminization through flexible labor," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 17(7), pages 1077-1095, July.
    4. Isitt, Benjamin & Moroz, Melissa, 2007. "The Hospital Employees' Union Strike and the Privatization of Medicare in British Columbia, Canada," International Labor and Working-Class History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 71(1), pages 91-111, April.
    5. Editors The, 2007. "From the Editors," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 2(1), pages 1-5, June.
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